Reflection 2
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Learning more details about classical rhetoric was the topic of Dr. Kevin O’Neill, professor of philosophy at the University of Redlands. He began with an in depth study of Aristotle’s rhetoric and ancient Greek culture. Greeks lived in Agon and known as anAgonistic culture that was eristic, characterized by disputes or arguments. Oh, for the joy of an argument! Their lifestyle was to enjoy interaction with their countrymen in their polis or city made in speech. They even participated in intercity speech contests that resulted in a slaughter. Greeks liked arguing over the unnecessary things of life. The key to this philosophy was the non-necessary risking of one’s life through public actions performed in a short memorable fashion because you only got to do it once! Speech was a public activity central for survival—no talk, no city. The requirement for being a good Greek citizen was to have a good mouth on you!
Aristotle’s three specific types of speech were deliberative (future), forensic (past), and epideictic (death). In conducting a speech (logos), the use of epagoge or induction were principles drawn from a pattern of experience. The dialectic portion of a speech was the use of syllogisms to make a declarative sentence or claim about the world. Out of 256 forms of syllogisms, only 24 were considered “bad.”
In classical rhetoric it is necessary to understand desires and emotions. Ethos, or character, has three portions to consider. In order to be plausible, it takes three parts. First, sophrosyne or wisdom, means somebody who knows how to get around. Second, eunoia or goodwill, and last, arêtes or virtuous conduct completes the plausibility curriculum. The key to Aristotle’s viewpoint is the enthymeme which means something taken to heart or that gets to the heart of the matter—the center. It is masking the assumptions within the argument. His rhetoric also includes: logos (reason), and pathos (emotion). It was very interesting to discover some fine points about the Greek culture and Professor O’Neill did a fine job.
After the speech, Dr. Wexler reviewed and went on to discuss the three parts of poetry which are: comedy (ugly, or worst of the people); epic (the best of today); and, tragedy (people—better than today). The means consists of language, rhythm, and harmony. The objects have actions and agents while the modes have narration or characterization. There are six parts to tragedy, and they are: plot (the most important), character, diction, thought, spectacle, and song. Tragedy is the mimesis or “the imitation of an action.”
The final reflection of today is on Longinus and sublimity, the art to amaze or wow! Sublimity has a reputation as the most influential classical works in European tradition. To be able to please all men at all times is truly sublime. Longinus uses five sources of sublimity and they are: power to conceive great thoughts; strong and inspired emotion; certain kinds of figures; diction; and word arrangement. Today has proven to be very resourceful.
Word Count:505
Aristotle
Works Cited
Leitch, Vincent B., ed. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism
New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2010. Print.
