A Dissertation on Rhetoric

Download or read book A Dissertation on Rhetoric written by Aristotle and published by Theclassics.Us. This book was released on 2013-09 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1812 edition. Excerpt: ... BOOK n..1... KJ11..1.. ti: .!;?;, -!q .: CHAP. I. A He orator should be acquainted with human manners and passions. Hitherto we have endeavoured to explain what concerns those things which it is necessary to know, in order to be in a condition for persuaditig, or the contrary; for censure or praise, accusation or defence: and we even have gone into the opinions and propositions, which are, in such cases, useful, for the purpose of attaching credit to what is said. From those alone, and the places we have given, every argument and enthymem which each kind of discourse, separately, and each of the three kinds of rhetoric require, are derived. But because rhetoric has been instituted, with the design of inducing the auditor to give his opinion upon what is proposed to him (for the resolutions of a deliberative assembly are real judgments, and the courts of law are celebrated but by their decisions) for this reason it will be necessary, that the orator should not only tak? care to adduce sound reasoning, and prove his allegations, but also, while he speaks, to impress a good opinion of himself on those whom he addresses, and to win the favour of the judge towards the subject of his pleading. In matters of persuasion, and more particularly in public assemblies, or in forensic pleading, it is highly important for the advocate, in the first place, to impress his hearers with a favourable opinion of him (by appearing at once, a man of ability, of honour, and inclined to their good); and in the second place, it is incumbent on him, previous to his address upon the main point, to make a certain disposition of their minds to receive it. The art of impressing a favourable opinion of the speaker on the minds of his hearers, is more peculiarly requisite.