Basic Aristotelian terms for Invention

Ethos: The Persuasiveness of Character

Ethos

The term originally meant “way of life” or “dwelling/abode” and shares the root of the words ethics/ethical and ethnic.

Ethos

The term originally meant “way of life” or “dwelling/abode” and shares the root of the words ethics/ethical and ethnic.

Aristotle says that among all the elements of persuasion, it is the ethos of the speaker that tends to be the most influential.

Ethos

Audiences seek demonstrations of the speaker’s

Ethos

Audiences seek demonstrations of the speaker’s

• Good judgment: Do you gasp things appropriately, make good decisions, are you wise and balanced in your views?

Ethos

Audiences seek demonstrations of the speaker’s

• Good judgment: Do you gasp things appropriately, make good decisions, are you wise and balanced in your views?

• Good will: Do you have the audience’s best interests at heart?

Ethos

Audiences seek demonstrations of the speaker’s

• Good judgment: Do you gasp things appropriately, make good decisions, are you wise and balanced in your views?

• Good will: Do you have the audience’s best interests at heart?

• Good character: Do you provide a model to emulate?

Ethos

Ethos

1. At minimum: establish your credibility to speak on the subject.

2. A more advanced approach: demonstrate your good judgment, good will, and good character.

3. The best: speakers cultivate an unmistakable personal style that animates the whole speech and gives us a new way to be.

Pathos: The Persuasiveness of Emotions

Pathos

• Shares root of the word passion and passive. To feel pathos means to be “touched” by the language of the speaker.

Pathos

• Shares root of the word passion and passive. To feel pathos means to be “touched” by the language of the speaker.

According to Aristotle, pathe are not “irrational” or unpredictable. A speaker can deliberately cultivate specific moods and, from there, influence an audience’s judgment.

Pathos

Good speakers add elements to a speech that put the audience in a “mood.”

• Fear-Confidence• Love-Hate• Anger-Calm• Shame-Pride• Pity-Contempt

Pathos

Good speakers add elements to a speech that put the audience in a “mood.”

Angst, boredom, depression, despair, duty, embarrassment, faith, friendship, frustration, gratitude, guilt, hope, indifference, innocence, jealousy, joy, loss, mourning, nihilism, pride, regret, remorse, respect, sadness, self-respect, vanity, zeal and more…

Pathos

Pathos is often cultivated through concrete language and sensory detail.

Pathos

Pathos

1. At minimum: Add emotionally attuned passages to one or more main points.

2. A more advanced approach: Seek to stir specific moods in the audience that might shape their judgment.

3. The best: speakers cultivate a palpable emotional energy in the speech that gives the audience a kind of embodied “thrill” and awakens new emotional responsiveness and new ways to feel.

Logos: The persuasiveness of good Reasons

Logos

The word originally meant “gathering” in a way that allows what is there to stand out.

Logos

The word originally meant “gathering” in a way that allows what is there to stand out.

We find logos used as a suffix (e.g. psychology, anthropology, biology).

Logos

The word originally meant “gathering” in a way that allows what is there to stand out.

We find logos used as a suffix (e.g. psychology, anthropology, biology)

And it is the word for “Word” in the Christian tradition.

Logos

For this class, we will consider logos primarily as a way thinking about the importance of building strong arguments.

Logos

For this class, we will consider logos primarily as a way thinking about the importance of building strong arguments.

Logos in this sense deals with what is likely and reasonable…not “logical” and “necessary.”

Argument is an approach to decision-making

Argument

Argument is an attempt to inspire judgment in an another about something uncertain using reasons drawn from what the audience already knows and believes.

Parts of an Argument

• Claim: A statement about something uncertain

Parts of an Argument

• Claim: A statement about something uncertain• Reason: Why we should agree

Parts of an Argument

• Claim: A statement about something uncertain• Reason: Why we should agree• Evidence: What facts support the reason

Parts of an Argument

• Claim: A statement about something uncertain• Reason: Why we should agree• Evidence: What facts support the reason---------------------------------------------------------------• Warrant: Underlying (often implicit, common

sense) assumptions that make the claim/support plausible

Parts of an Argument

• Claim: That guy is not boyfriend material.

Parts of an Argument

• Claim: That guy is not boyfriend material.• Reason: • Evidence:

----------------------------------------------------------Warrant:

Parts of an Argument

Consider counterarguments at the level of the reasoning or underlying warrant.

Parts of an Argument

• Claim:• Reason: • Evidence:

----------------------------------------------------------Warrant:

Typical Kinds of Arguments

• Definition• Similarity• Difference• Degree• Consequence

Logos

1. At minimum: Consider what your audience is likely to find reasonable and plausible.

2. A more advanced approach: Write an array of arguments tailored to the specific audience; consider the underlying warrants and prepare to refute counter-arguments.

3. The best: speakers give us new ways of reasoning, new truths, or new ways to affirm our truths.

Putting it all together"Before I Die"