What is rhetoric, anyhow?
The power of persuasion is, of all powers, one that to at least some degree is sought by everyone. As part of the Trivium of classical education, rhetoric is the culmination of the two stages that precede it. Without rhetoric, grammar and logic cannot reach their full potential. The communication arts learned in rhetoric help to provide a solid foundation for the lifelong pursuit of learning.
Using Aristotle's definition, this rhetoric textbook takes students through all the major heads of classical rhetorical theory, at the same time making the lessons learned relevant and applicable to modern and technological life. Each lesson includes three exercises, one designed to reinforce rhetorical theory, one to let the student experience good rhetoric, and one to give him the opportunity to put the principles into practice. In the final chapters, the classical theory of rhetoric is applied to a few of the different media (message bearers) we commonly use today.
The claim that the power of persuasion is a power that corrupts is not baseless. For this reason, the study of rhetoric must be guarded by the grace of God, Who alone can keep us. Nevertheless, rhetoric is a powerful tool that can and should be used for good. Saint Augustine once asked this question: "Now, the art of rhetoric being available for the enforcing either of truth or falsehood, who will dare to say that truth in the person of its defenders is to take its stand unarmed against falsehood?" And so, Augustine, a teacher of rhetoric, with a rhetorical question, makes our point rhetorically.
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