An Introduction to Rhetoric
The Classic Greek Trilogy
The Platonists
The Sophists
Epistemology --> truth is relative, created by humans
Love rhetoric; it is necessary for citizens to function in a political society
Rhetoric is: the source of knowledge
School of thought responding to the time period's common ideas about mythology and mysticism
Epistemology --> truth is absolute, coming from the noumenal world
Wary of rhetoric; only appropriate when used ethically
Rhetoric is: a way to create false truths
School of thought responding to Sophistic ideas of relative truth
Epistemology --> truth is grounded in scientific observation, sensory experiences
See value of rhetoric; persuasion necessary when communicating
Rhetoric is: the counterpart to dialectic, used to share observations
School of thought responding to Platonic ideas of the noumenal world and Sophistic ideas of humans as the source of knowledge
The Aristotilians
Comparing the Classics:
Truth, Knowledge, and Rhetoric
according to the Sophists, Platonists, and Aristotilians
The most important thing to remember about rhetoric is that is shaped by epistemology - in other words, your idea of how knowledge is created affects how you view rhetoric. As we've learned, the Athenian schools of thought have conflicting beliefs about the origin of truth, so their ideas about rhetoric also differ. For every school of thought established, another is established in response; rhetoric as a discipline is still evolving today, responding to the classic ideas of the Greeks and other subsequent schools of thought.
The study of rhetoric is a journey that began a very long time ago and will never end, as humans will always have a need for persuasive communication skills. Hopefully this brief introduction has answered some questions you may have had concerning rhetoric (such as its basic definition), but do not worry if the concept still seems overwhelming or confusing. As first-year EWM students, you will spend the next several years learning more about the elements of communication and the rest of your life developing your own persuasive skills.