Philosophy as a Body of Knowledge - Essay Example

CRS 183 Essay Introduction Philosophy as a body of knowledge has its historical roots in the ancient times. Seemingly, it has undergone various developments over time. These are attributable to the emergent philosophers that have contributed significant volumes of knowledge to this sphere. One of the greatest philosophers whose ideas have had a great impact on the society is Aristotle. His themes and concepts have stood the test of time and are currently useful in modern day instruction. Of all his works, rhetoric remains the most relevant in the current teaching environment. Of great importance is its contribution to the aspect of persuasion that assumes an integral part in speech. In his works, Aristotle contended that persuasion is integral to any public speaking. Increasingly, the rhetorical concepts of Aristotle have been incorporated in almost every public speaking book. In essence, they constitute the fundamental pillars of public speaking. Without incorporating these concepts in speech, it is unlikely that the audience would accept and appreciate that particular speech. In this paper, I argue that Aristotelian concepts of pathos, logos and ethos contribute significantly to the modern day concept of speech. Ethos contributes positively to persuasion through informing the audience about the speaker’s morality as well as knowledge and expertise about the subject. This is requisite for effective speech delivery especially considering that the messages relayed by modern speakers have diverse implications on the audiences. Aristotle indicated that ethos comprise of three main factors that include “practical wisdom, virtue and goodwill especially towards ones audience” (Horner 54). According to him, this was a requirement and attribute that was solely confined to the speaker. Thus, the speaker needed to exhibit characters and mannerisms that were consistent with moral expectations of the society. This was imperative in enhancing the credibility of the speaker. Credibility in this regard is defined by virtues such as respect and trustworthiness. It would equally be important for the audience to believe that the speaker has authority over the speech being relayed. This state of affairs could only be attained if the speaker is conversant with the facts being put across. In the modern day speech, it cannot be disputed that ethos is at the center stage of delivery. The audience would only listen to a speaker they believe is credible and would meet their expectations. In the modern context, the Aristotelian concept of ethos extends to the literary writers. In the current literary environment, writers are predominant and contribute significantly to the information passed on at different stages. Unlike in the past when modes of conveying information were limited to spoken word, current speakers greatly utilize writing too. In essence, they write the speeches that they wish to relay and go to the extent of publishing and distributing them. With respect to ethos, Farrell ascertains that before an argument relative persuasion is made, “at least the character of the writer needs to be established” (Farrell 71). This can be used to explain why writers make efforts to provide their readers with biographical information. Through these, they underscore the works that they have previously done. Relative efforts are geared towards informing their audiences about their credibility in the field of writing. Also worth acknowledging is the aspect of accrediting the sources that contributed in different ways to the speech. Notably, these have been entrenched in the legal domains and writers accredit the sources from which they get quotes as well as other information. At this point, it cannot be disputed that Aristotelian ethos has indeed contributed significantly to modern day speech development. Pathos is another important rhetoric aspect that is integral to modern development of speech. This according to Farrell addresses the “direct appeal to the emotions of the audience” (Farrell 72). The speaker and writer in this regard need to determine the emotional impact of the words they use to their audiences. For instance, they need to establish whether the respective words or phrases evoke feelings of sympathy, fear, love, envy, compassion, contempt, hate and so forth. It is widely agreed that the feelings or emotions of audiences are instrumental in influencing decision making (Gross and Waher 43). Basing on this presumption, modern day writers and speakers place great emphasis on the use of pathos in speech delivery. In politics for instance, use of this skill is effective in persuading the audiences about particular political perceptions. Currently, most political candidates as well as writers are investing greatly in the use of pathos. Through this platform, they are able to effectively present their views to the audience. This is particularly important because modern day audiences are placing great emphasis on the aspect of quality. Quality in this context is defined by the ability to attain one’s goals and objectives. Writers and speakers successfully attain their goals and objectives when they persuade their audiences accordingly. Current writers greatly utilize Aristotelian metaphors, similes, analogies, stories and anecdotes to evoke the feelings and emotions of the readers and audiences. To a great extent, these trigger an emotional response in the audiences and ultimately enable them to meet their goals and objectives. Although these concepts were suggested during ancient times, they are still instrumental in speech development and delivery. They enable the audience to establish and maintain a relationship with the writers and the speakers. Through these relationships, the audiences are able to develop confidence in the writers and speakers. This according to Farrell is sustainable as the relative rewards are lasting (Farrell 62). Logos is an Aristotelian principle that is vital in modern speech development too. This concerns the specific speech or information being passed on by the writer or speaker. It addresses the ‘logical appeal of the speech” (Gross and Horner 81). Logic is an all-encompassing concept that seeks to eliminate inconsistencies or gaps in the messages being relayed. In this regard, it is worth noting that any inconsistency in the information being passed on has adverse implications on its credibility and effectiveness. Inconsistencies imply that the facts presented therein are not well connected. This is directly associated with the concept of reasoning and how this affects the thesis or argument of the speaker. In order for a speech or piece of writing to have an impact on the audience, it needs to be coherent. This also enables the reader to effectively pass on the intended message. In this respect, the facts need to be clearly connected to each other and should contribute to the writer’s main topic. Logos is an important aspect because it enhances the credibility of the message. Coherence aids in ensuring that the respective message is sensible and communicates the intended message in an acceptable manner. To attain this, it also needs to be based on evidence, facts and statistics. These should be arranged or incorporated in the message in an effective manner to ensure that they are not contradictory. Most importantly, they need to be relevant and consistent with the subject under review. As indicated earlier, these aspects authenticate the message and make it credible. Modern audiences place equal emphasis on the aspect of coherence. It is an aspect that also contributes a great deal to quality. Coherence ensures that the facts presented are logical and relative meanings are relevant to the topic under review. At this point, logos, pathos and ethos are critical aspects of any modern argument. Although Aristotelian put them forth, they still play an instrumental role in enhancing effective speech delivery. Through these aspects, the writers and speakers are able to influence and inform the audiences accordingly. As it has come out from the study, ethos enables the writers to accredit their information. Through ethos, the speakers are able to convince the audiences about their credibility. Pathos on the other hand helps the writers and speakers to establish and maintain a good relationship with their audiences. Through these relationships, a suitable environment for speech delivery is established and nurtured. Finally, the logos address the logical aspect of the information being passed on by the speakers. Coherence enhances the reception of the message by the audience. In conclusion, the concepts of pathos, logos and ethos are important in modern day speech, regardless of them having been proposed by Aristotle. Works Cited Farrell Thomas. Landmark essays on contemporary rhetoric: Volume 15. USA: Routledge, 1998. Print. Gross Alan and Walzer Arthur. Rereading Aristotle’s Rhetoric. Southern Illinois: University Press, 2008. Print. Horner Wilfred. The present state of scholarship in historical and contemporary rhetoric. Missouri: University Press, 1990. Print. Read More