Aristotle
Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was one of the most significant philosophers in human history. His works on rhetoric and his imprint on ancient politics proved to be highly influential in ancient Greece.
His personal views of Rhetoric
Rhetoric in ancient Greece during Aristotle’s lifetime was frequently contested. Aristotle descriptively wrote about the practicalities of rhetoric, firmly believing that rhetoric can be a helpful or hurtful tool, depending on how it’s used. Meanwhile, his teacher Plato was prescriptively writing his opinions of rhetoric: that rhetoric had no value in society because it’s dangerous. Aristotle wrote about rhetoric’s implications on society and argued that it is not inherently evil, for the truth will prevail.
Aristotle acknowledges the potential danger of rhetoric: “the arousing of prejudice, pity, anger, and similar emotions has nothing to do with essential facts, but is merely a personal appeal to the man who is judging the case” (Aristotle 133). When one can effectively use rhetoric, the cold hard facts may be overshadowed by the feelings that are invoked. However, if society sets safeguards in place, especially in the court of law, less can be left to rhetoric and more can be left to the facts. For example, Aristotle mentions that Areopagus, Athen’s murder trial location, “forbids talk about non-essentials. This is sound law and custom” (Aristotle 133). With less non-essential talking, there is less room for rhetoric and persuasion of the jurors or the judge, and the facts are addressed more so than speculation.
While the moral ramifications of rhetoric in court can be prevented, it may seem that in settings outside of court people are more prone to some potential evil doings of rhetoric. Aristotle rebuts this by arguing: “things that are true and things that are just have a natural tendency to prevail over their opposites” (Aristotle 135). The truth is easier to believe because facts support the truth. While rhetoric can be used to lie, facts do not support a lie as well as they support the truth.
Aristotle in Today’s World
When reading The Art of Rhetoric, one should be keenly aware that it was written in the fourth century BCE. Despite its age, Aristotle’s views on honesty and rhetoric seem to have stood the test of time.
The dishonest who use rhetoric for their morally unjust purposes are still viewed poorly in today’s society. From children being taught that lying is bad, to adults steering clear of those they sense are manipulative, those who use rhetoric for unjust purposes are generally frowned upon. Morality has managed to keep pace with the technological advancements of the past two millennia. When Plato feared rhetoric and writing because it gave people the ability to bend the truth on paper, the world adjusted by creating laws for written conduct, such as anti-libel laws. Plato’s opposition of writing and rhetoric parallels today’s development of online media.
As we enter a new digital age, one can only hope that society will make similar adjustments and people will retain the ability to see the truth through false rhetoric online. The internet can be a wild west of rhetoric and false information, with it giving anybody a medium to lie. But, just as Plato fearing writing was not the answer, fearing the internet is not the answer. The world is going to change either way, so the audience must be aware of the rhetorical context of what they’re reading. The audience could look out for the source’s potential motives and what rhetorical methods are being employed, and with some practice, we can be smarter and more selective of what rhetoric we choose to believe.
Questions/Reflections
Aristotle’s defense of rhetoric and his claims of man’s affinity to truth pose some potential questions about today’s world. With the rise of misinformation on certain news channels and websites, how did their use of rhetoric gain the trust of so many people? Are we moving towards a world where people care less about the realest truth and honesty, or are these things simply not available to us due to the nature of the internet? With the internet and the media evolving far more rapidly than writing ever did, I sincerely hope we can keep up with them.
Works Cited
Aristotle. “from Rhetoric.” Reading the World: Ideas That Matter, 4th ed., edited by Michael Austin, W.W. Norton & Company, 2020, pp. 132-138.