Comparing Aristotle's Rhetoric, Ethos, And Logos

Introduction

Aristotle’s view of rhetoric and in turn dialectic evolved from the views of his mentor and teacher Plato whose academy he attended for twenty years. Additionally, he would have been influenced by the positions of other great Greek philosophers such as his mentor Plato and his teacher Socrates whom Plato studied under for eight years until Socrates was executed for impiety. Interestingly, while heavily influenced by Plato, Aristotle found rhetoric to be an art form when artfully executed. He defined rhetoric in perhaps the most elegant way along with it’s counter part dialectic. Additionally, Aristotle divided rhetoric into “three species”(Aristotle & Kennedy, 2007, p. 46) defining each branch, there purpose, and the aspect

Primarily used to persuade potential voters for support in election or legislation being championed by the individual or party. To that end, they employ each of Aristotle’s artistic proofs, Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in very artful ways. Unquestionably, one of the greatest politicians of the United Staes, President Ronald Reagan who earned the moniker “the great communicator,” utilized rhetoric effectively. Undoubtedly, on of his most significancy and memorable speeches took place in June of 1987, speaking to an audience of world leaders in front of the famous Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, Reagan masterfully demonstrated each of the proofs. Admittedly, “President Ronald Reagan, almost by definition, had quite a bit of extrinsic ethos. In addition to being President, Reagan was known to be an effective communicator and an excellent rhetorician”(Abrams, Friedman, Picanco, Chiu, & Mayur, para. 2). Ragan used several other examples to enforce the ethos within his speech, one by pointing out the oppressive nature of communism, as well as the views of the leader of the Soviet regime that was reasonable for it. Continuing, he appealed to logos by pointing among other things how "Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself"(Abrams et al., para. 4). Finally, he appeals to pathos several ways most notably in his statement “For I find in Berlin a message of hope … a message

1). The use of rhetoric in the dispensation of justice is vital. Lawyers and judges as we have seen use judicial oratory in the dispensation of justice. Unquestionably, they, by virtue of their oaths preform this task in an ethical and responsible manner when the practice of justice is carried out with the confines of the legal system. However, the use of rhetoric can be used to sway those outside of the justice systems as well as those within it if employed properly or improperly. Take for example the case of Michael Brown who was fatally shot by a police officer in 2014. This shooting spewed a national outrage in its wake and a national debt about race and the justice system. Clearly, the use of rhetic was used effectively by both sides, those who believed that the young Mr. Brown had been gunned down because of the color of his skin and by those who believed the officer was defending his own life. However, in their eagerness to foster their points they were ignorant to, or neglected to include facts surrounding the incident in there speeches. This lead to numerous violent confrontations and the destruction of property, this was a clear example of rhetoric being used incite violence in the name of a slain young man. In the end