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W Sept. 5 Book I of Aristotle’s Rhetoric BH pp. 200-213

By longaker
Created 31 Aug 2007 - 10:40am

Using one or two of Aristotle’s directions for inventing forensic arguments, either discuss or invent an argument that is relevant to a contemporary issue. For example, you might say (following Aristotle’s directions about how to appeal to equity [p. 209]) that we should consider Senator Craig’s circumstances and his unfortunate need to seek physical affection in a culture that abhors homosexuality. How can we harshly judge a man who is merely acting out his own nature in a clandestine fashion when American society leaves few respectable venues for people like him to be themselves? Then invent on the other side of the issue, using the same argumentative tack or another that Aristotle makes available. If there are arguments on both (or several) sides of every issue, what good does inventing them do for us? How have you benefited from your effort at analyzing or arguing from multiple perspectives in multiple forms?

‹ Books II-III of Aristotle’s Rhetoric BH 230-240 [0]

Source URL:
http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/node/1186