What comes to mind when you think of Rhetoric? Probably some politician spouting elegant language in a speech to get you to vote for him. Yet said politician may have, and often does, have ulterior motives. He may intend to help his constituents, but along the way, help himself and friends too.
The image we conjure up in our minds of Rhetoric is often a bad one. We see how people can use words to manipulate, deceive, or rile up; so some make the assumption that, as a whole, the art of Rhetoric is a bad one, intended for malice and selfishness.
There’s no denying that people use the power of the word for evil. Carefully crafting speech after speech just to get you to cast a vote or buy a 2009 Chrysler Sebring. Throughout history, the use of carefully crafted rhetoric has been used in the pursuit of selfish gain and evil. But is that a reason for us not to learn it?
Recognizing Sophists
Someone who uses words to manipulate or dissuade against well-doing, as was the case in the days of ancient Greece, was called a Sophist. Now we just call them politicians. All jokes aside, sophistry is a style of persuasion that focuses on the emotions of the audience and relies heavily on fallacies.
What is a fallacy anyway? They weaken arguments by introducing faulty logic or raising irrelevant points. While they are often used or referred to in our everyday conversations, many don’t realize they are relying on faulty logic or believing a common truth that is actually false or not always true. While there are many, it’s important to know those that most often appear in our conversations and on social media.
The Ad Hominem fallacy is one that makes an argument personal and avoids the main point. For example, “I wouldn’t trust anything Tim says about nutrition; he’s always been overweight.” Rather than addressing Tim’s actual claims about diet or citing evidence, the speaker dismisses them based on his appearance. This attacks the person instead of engaging with the argument itself. Just because a person is overweight doesn't mean they lack helpful knowledge about health and nutrition; if anything, it just means they struggle to follow their own advice.
The Straw Man fallacy over exaggerates a point to make it outlandish. For example,
Sarah: “I think we should limit screen time for our kids to encourage outdoor play.”
Jimmy: “So you want to ban all video games forever and force kids to live outside? That’s ridiculous.”
Jimmy exaggerates and distorts Sarah’s proposal, turning a modest screen-time limit into an absurd total ban, then attacks that misrepresentation. The real suggestion never gets addressed. People will use this fallacy to reframe an argument or conversation on their terms and avoid the original point.
The Slippery Slope fallacy expects something that comes not as a result of a logical conclusion.
For example, “If we allow people to bring coffee into the library, next thing you know they’ll be having full meals, then loud parties, and soon no one will be able to study at all.” This assumes, without evidence, that a single policy change will inevitably trigger a chain of extreme outcomes. It leaps from “coffee is okay” to “complete chaos,” ignoring any middle ground. There is no logical connection between allowing coffee to having loud and disruptive parties; there are no statements that connect the two to make a valid argument.
By being able to identify these fallacies, you can judge whether or not a speaker is speaking the truth or trying to rile you up.
Rhetoric is used for much more than manipulation; a good orator uses his or her words to make the truth more persuasive, more appealing. Instead of hiding their true intent or using fallacies to give credence to something that may or may not be the case, an orator, or rhetorician, makes the truth clear, not cloudy.
He or she carefully chooses just the right words that appropriately portray their authority on a matter, the rationale behind the argument, and why the audience connects to it. These skills are essential for everyday interaction, political decision-making, and discourse. Therefore, it’s important to train in them if not to use them for yourself, but to defend against those who do not use them ethically.
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I appreciate you taking the time to engage with these ideas. I hope this newsletter gave you something to think about.
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