Analysis Of Climate Of Complete Certainty By Bret Stephens

Climate of Complete Certainty Concrete, tangible numbers, percentages, and stats have become the guiding light for our decisions and beliefs. Rather than accept the gray area of uncertainty, we prefer a definitive answer in the form of data: polls, statistics, pie charts. The answers to the world’s major issues are more often being determined by these “certainties.” The increasing reliance on data to dictate our lives is proving to be a problem, as NY Times journalist Bret Stephens points out. Stephens’ April 2017 article “Climate of Complete Certainty” addresses the “limitless faith” the public has in surprisingly limiting data. By using an array of rhetorical tools and compelling arguments, Stephens is able to sway the audience in his favor.

An artist—a free thinker. What’s more, instead of accrediting the quote with Milosz’s name, he chooses to close with “An old Jew of Galacia.” Whatever the reason for doing so, the phrase “old Jew” is sure to incite some of emotion from readers. By opening the article with this particular epigraph, Stephens not only displays his familiarity with literature, but also his knowledge of the topic he is about to present, immediately establishing his credibility. With a combination of ethos and pathos, Stephens volleys between two voices: one being fairly informal, almost conversational; and the other, more structured, with extended sentences, standardized syntax, and frilly verbiage. Stephens explains that “authority has a way of descending to certitude, and certitude begets hubris.” Rather than simply saying that authority generates arrogance, he chooses to use 10-point words. Stephens shifts between gears from paragraph to paragraph, giving the entire article an addictive readability. He does so in such a subtle way that, unless having read more than once, would be indistinguishable from the tone of the rest of his article. This methodical manipulation is so seamless that it’s disarming—leaving the audience open to persuasion. With this method he establishes both credibility, tone, and