Aristotle's Rhetoric Theory
Rhetoric
Rhetorical Theory centered on the 4th Century BC writings of Aristotle. Aristotle’s Rhetoric
was the seminal work which was later revised by others including Kenneth Burke (dramatism)
and Toulmin (argument model). George A. Kennedy (2004) wrote the most respected,
authoritative and explanatory translation of Aristotle’s Rhetoric but an older translation by W.
Rhys Roberts (1954) is available online for free. Aristotle’s mentor, Plato (385 BC), reacted
to the unjust rule of Athenian culture, first defining rhetoric in negative terms as a dangerous
form of flattery and the persuasion of uneducated mobs of people in courts and assemblies.
Aristotle re-defined rhetoric in positive terms as the ability to identify the appropriate means of
persuasion in any given situation.
Mary P. Nichols (1987) states, “In his Rhetoric, Aristotle defends rhetoric against the charges
that it permits injustice and distorts truth – charges made by Aristophanes and Plato. He presents
rhetoric as a bridge between private and public, passion and reason, individual interest and
common good, and equity and law. Rhetoric thus appears as a means for statesmanship rather
than a tool of despotism... In his Rhetoric, Aristotle divides rhetoric into three kind: deliberative
rhetoric deals with the advantageous or the good, epideictic rhetoric with the noble, and forensic
rhetoric deal with the just (I. iii. 5)…Aristotle teaches rhetoricians how to incorporate into their
speeches the variety of goods that men seek, as they are revealed in their opinions and implied in
their passions. Because it is based on a comprehensive understanding of human nature, their
rhetoric will be persuasive. And because of that same comprehensiveness, it will be both true
and just, to the extent that human affairs permit… Aristotle points out the limits necessary for
successful persuastion – from the logical rules that
Rhetorical Theory centered on the 4th Century BC writings of Aristotle. Aristotle’s Rhetoric
was the seminal work which was later revised by others including Kenneth Burke (dramatism)
and Toulmin (argument model). George A. Kennedy (2004) wrote the most respected,
authoritative and explanatory translation of Aristotle’s Rhetoric but an older translation by W.
Rhys Roberts (1954) is available online for free. Aristotle’s mentor, Plato (385 BC), reacted
to the unjust rule of Athenian culture, first defining rhetoric in negative terms as a dangerous
form of flattery and the persuasion of uneducated mobs of people in courts and assemblies.
Aristotle re-defined rhetoric in positive terms as the ability to identify the appropriate means of
persuasion in any given situation.
Mary P. Nichols (1987) states, “In his Rhetoric, Aristotle defends rhetoric against the charges
that it permits injustice and distorts truth – charges made by Aristophanes and Plato. He presents
rhetoric as a bridge between private and public, passion and reason, individual interest and
common good, and equity and law. Rhetoric thus appears as a means for statesmanship rather
than a tool of despotism... In his Rhetoric, Aristotle divides rhetoric into three kind: deliberative
rhetoric deals with the advantageous or the good, epideictic rhetoric with the noble, and forensic
rhetoric deal with the just (I. iii. 5)…Aristotle teaches rhetoricians how to incorporate into their
speeches the variety of goods that men seek, as they are revealed in their opinions and implied in
their passions. Because it is based on a comprehensive understanding of human nature, their
rhetoric will be persuasive. And because of that same comprehensiveness, it will be both true
and just, to the extent that human affairs permit… Aristotle points out the limits necessary for
successful persuastion – from the logical rules that
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