The Art of Rhetoric

Hello everyone! Here's another interesting topic for you all today. Let's talk about how rhetoric and language can be used as tools for manipulation.

Have you ever heard someone say, "That was a rhetorical question. Don't answer it." Well, what does that even mean? First, let's clear up the definition of the word rhetoric, and all its wonders.

Rhetoric is a style of speech. It's a technique used to bring out your point effectively. There are 3 main components to the art of rhetoric, collectively known as the Rhetorical Triangle, created by Aristotle.

1. Ethos

"Ethos" sounds like "ethic," which is what is refers to. If you're speaking rhetorically, ethos is something you need to include in your dialogue. It is basically describing your character. Are you a trustworthy person? Are you morals and ethics in place? Are you someone worthy of other people's attention and respect? These all fall into the ethos section.

2. Logos

"Logos" sounds like "logic." When you're trying to make a point, you can't simply throw information down on your audience. There has to be evidence, or some sort of way to back up your words. It needs foundation. Logos refers to the logical appeal of a speech. This is where the argument happens.

3. Pathos

This is the fun one. "Pathos" sounds a bit like "pathology." Pathology usually refers to disease or suffering (pathogens, etc.), but pathos is more than just that. It is the emotional appeal of your speech to the audience. If you include pathos into what you're saying, that means your words are able to stir up emotions in the minds of your audience. It could instill pride, sadness, fear, anything.

These 3 components usually make up the best speeches. If a person successfully taps into each one to an audience, that speech will most likely be successful. The Rhetorical Triangle is an excellent tool for manipulation. Let's take a look at an example.

(I'm not referring to anyone specific below. I'm making this up completely.)

Let's say a politician is giving a speech to an American audience. He wants to be elected for a certain position in the government. Maybe to some, he isn't the best choice. There isn't a 100% guarantee that he's got this in the bag, so it's time to spice up his appeal to them. Time for some rhetoric.

In his speech, he'll probably start with something like "My fellow Americans." This is providing a sense of unity among himself and them. He will then go on to talk about how wonderful our country is, sounding like he is a proud American. Then he will talk about everything that is wrong with it, question why it's wrong, and what can we do as U.S. citizens to fix it. If he nails down the right "problems" and addresses them in such a way, each individual listening will feel like he is talking to them personally. Each individual will feel that he knows exactly how everyone feels about those problems, and how badly everyone wants a solution. If he promises to fix them to make everything wonderful again, his audience will be really happy. They'll cheer constantly. This is pathos.

Anyone can make promises, but not everyone can keep them. How are we to know that this man will keep his? He will then go on the discuss his history in dealing with situations like this. He will talk about all of his credentials, the positions he has held in the past, etc. This is ethos.

Some say that every idea is a good idea, but it isn't always the case. What if this man's ideas for improvement are complete nonsense? How is he going to convince them that his plan will work? He will then pull out a bunch of statistics to make him sound like he really knows what he's talking about, and that he's got this. Maybe some people will analyze every statistic/fact he says to see if they're really true, but most people won't delve too deep into it. The common man usually goes with what sounds best, and few go further than that. Either way, the facts are there. This is logos.

By the end of the speech, everyone will be shouting "USA! USA!" and that man will wave, smiling at his new followers. He nailed all three legs of the Rhetorical Triangle, and had a successful speech.

Now, going back to the rhetorical question that you're not supposed to answer... basically, when someone asks a rhetorical question, it's only for dramatic effect. In this case, it doesn't necessarily include ethos, pathos, and logos. Rhetorical questions are just for style. This type of question is just supposed to sink into your mind and make you think about it, but not necessarily answer it like a typical question.

For example, let's say some kid asks "Why do I have to go to school?" Instead of answering "To get an education," you could say "Do you want to work at McDonald's for the rest of your life?" That was a rhetorical question. The answer is obviously "no," but he won't say that. He should understand the point by now.

Well, that's all folks. See you next week!

Oh and...
Happy Birthday to me!
It's sometime this week. Bye now!