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 grasp 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 grasp 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 grasp 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 At minimum: establish your credibility to speak on the subject. A more advanced approach: demonstrate your good judgment, good will, and good character. 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 At minimum: Add emotionally attuned passages to one or more main points. A more advanced approach: Seek to stir specific moods in the audience that might shape their judgment. 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 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 At minimum: Consider what your audience is likely to find reasonable and plausible. A more advanced approach: Write an array of arguments tailored to the specific audience; consider the underlying warrants and prepare to refute counter-arguments. 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"