Rhetoric Lecture Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the lecture notes on rhetoric, its history, theories, and key figures, designed to aid in exam preparation.

Rhetoric

Rooted in persuasion and/or influence.

Herrick's definition of Rhetoric

The systematic study of and intentional practice of effective symbolic communication (inherently contextual!).

Symbol

Any mark, sign, sound, or gesture that communicates meaning based on social agreement.

Rhetorical Theory

Organized perspectives on rhetoric’s principles, social functions, and processes.

Rhetorical Discourse

Another word for rhetorical communication.

Rhetor

Someone who produces/presents rhetorical discourse.

Rhetorician

A person involved in the study of or teaching of rhetoric.

Sophists

Innovators of rhetoric being a distinct art and field of study, taught rhetoric for money.

Gorgias (Sophist)

Captivating teacher, saw rhetoric as 'verbal magic,' drew on emotional appeal and rhetorical devices.

Protagoras

Often called the first sophist, first to charge for lectures.

Isocrates

Focused on writing and education, sought to advance Greek culture and prepare effective leaders.

Aristocracy

Rule by the noble class, determined by birthright.

Democracy

Ruled by the people.

Demos

People.

Polis

Independent Greek city-state.

Isegoria

Equal opportunity for men to speak freely in public.

Sophos

Skilled/wise.

Arete

Virtue/excellence, leadership, and a capacity for success to the demos.

Techne (Sophists)

Practical art of logos (words/arguments).

Dissoi logoi

Contrasting/contradicting arguments.

Endoxa

Widely believed or highly probable premise.

Kairos

Taking advantage of opportune moments, adapting arguments to context.

Epideixis

Memorizing famous or model speeches.

Sophistic Dialectic

Inventing arguments for and against a proposition.

Plato

Aristocrat and student of Socrates; a philosopher who was concerned with the questions of truth and the pursuit of episteme.

Socrates

Teacher to Plato, widely credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy and moral philosophy.

Episteme

True knowledge.

Doxa

Opinion/common belief/practical knowledge.

Gorgias (Plato's dialogue)

A dialogue by Plato exploring the nature and uses of rhetoric, arguing sophistic rhetoric is not a techne but a mere knack.

Phaedrus (Plato's dialogue)

A dialogue by Plato exploring the relationship between rhetoric and love, suggesting a true techne of rhetoric when employed systematically by virtuous people with knowledge of Truth, justice, and the soul.

Aspasia

A highly educated Heterae in Athens, an eloquent speech writer, conversationalist, and teacher of rhetoric.

Heterae

Educated, professional courtesans for influential men in classical Athens.

Platonic Dialectic

A process of rigorous critical questioning between two parties used to identify flaws in logic and recall forgotten universal Truth, working towards consensus or winning an argument.

Pericles

One of the most powerful and influential Athenians, known for his wisdom and eloquence, a respected citizen-orator.

Syllogism

Deductive argument that moves from a general premise (endoxa) through a particular application of that premise to a specific conclusion.

Enthymeme

A deductive argument based on an unstated premise shared by the speaker and the audience (relies on practical truths), giving the audience the impression they arrived at the conclusion on their own.

Inartistic Proof

Raw material evidence not created by rhetoric, such as facts, statistics, or documents.

Artistic Proofs

Rhetorically constructed appeals, including logos, ethos, and pathos, requiring no material evidence.

Logos

Rhetorical appeal to logic.

Ethos

Rhetorical appeal to credibility/character.

Pathos

Rhetorical appeal to emotions and values.

Aristotle's definition of Rhetoric

The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.

Dialectic (Aristotle's view)

The practice of debating issues by starting with a wider issue, used to test arguments in philosophical conversations, addressing big abstract philosophical questions using questions and answers between 2-3 people, most appropriate for a well-educated audience.

Inventio (Rhetorical Canon)

The invention or discovery of arguments.

Dispositio (Rhetorical Canon)

The arrangement or organization of arguments.

Elcutio (Rhetorical Canon)

The expression or style of language used.

Memoria (Rhetorical Canon)

The memory of the speech content.

Pronuntiato (Rhetorical Canon)

The delivery of the speech.

Stasis

Points of disagreement/conflict, or a stopping point in an argument.

Stasis system

A Roman method of teaching rhetoric for identifying the core issue of a dispute.

Second Sophistic

A period when Rome transitioned from republic to empire, where rhetoric thrived but shifted focus towards entertainment rather than practical education or public discourse.

Cicero

One of the most influential figures in the Roman Republic, known as the greatest speaker and prolific writer of his time, author of at least six books on rhetoric.

Quintilian

Author of 'Institutes of Oratory,' defining rhetoric as 'the art of the good citizen speaking well'.

Longinus

Author of 'On the Sublime,' emphasizing the emotive power of language.