Running Head: THEORIST ARISTOTLE
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Theorist Aristotle
Angela Snyder
COML 508 A1
Gonzaga University
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Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to discuss a major contributor to communication theory and
describe the significant aspects of the theorists work. The Greek theoretician Aristotle will be
the focus of the following pages.
Aristotle was born in Stagira, Macedonia; an area in the north of Greece (Kenney, 2006,
p. 61). He was the son of the physician to the royal court of Macedonia (Kenney, 2006, p. 61).
Eventually, when had reached his seventeenth year of age, he became a student of Plato at
Plato’s Academy in Athens (Kenney, 2006, p. 61). Aristotle spent nearly twenty years under the
tutelage of Plato before departing from the Academy (Kenney, 2006, p. 61). Later, Aristotle
wrote several books and established the Lyceum for learning (Kenney, 2006, p. 62). One of his
major works, Rhetoric, is the foundation of public communication that is still relevant in current
culture (Griffin, 2006, p. 279).
In fact, the “Rhetorical Tradition,” as Griffin (2006) describes it, is Aristotle’s major
contribution to public speaking and political discourse (p. 279).
Aristotle’s Rhetoric
It is well known that Aristotle was a pupil of Plato. Herman (2013) says that Plato was
“was the formative influence in Aristotle’s life” and that “Aristotle wrote his earliest works (now
lost) in the same dialogue form” (p. 42). However, Aristotle’s studies ultimately evolved into a
departure of thought from his teacher. Plato was an idealist, “a guiding spirit of Western
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idealism and religious thought” (Herman, 2013, p. xxi). Aristotle was a “man of science and
common sense” (Herman, 2013, p. xxi).
While Plato’s philosophy explored “eternal Truths in an intimate setting”, Aristotle was
formulating the framework of public discourse (Griffin, 2009, p. 276). In fact, Aristotle was
concerned with “the art of discovering all available means of persuasion” and the “intentional act
of using words” particularly in civics (Griffin, 2009, pp. 276-277). Thus Rhetoric was born.
The construction of Aristotle’s rhetorical philosophy is straightforward and structured.
Griffin (2009) describes the five major components, or “cannons” of rhetoric as intervention,
arrangement, style, delivery, and memory (p. 276). Together, these tools form the basis for “the
art of discovering ways to make the truth seem more probable to an audience that isn’t
completely convinced” (Griffin, 2009, p. 280). Aristotle proposed three types of proof to
develop a means of persuasion. “Logical proof comes from the line of argument in the speech,
ethical proof is the way the speaker’s character is revealed through the message, and emotional
proof the speech draws out of the hearers” says Griffin (2009, p. 280).
Aristotle deconstructed logical proof (logos) into example and enthymeme (2005, p.109).
Griffin tells us that an enthymeme is “an incomplete version of a formal deductive syllogism that
is created by leaving out a premise already accepted by the audience” (2009, p. 281). Converse
to the deductive logic of inferences, an example uses “inductive reasoning” in order to move the
hearer to a particular closing argument (Griffin, 2009, p. 282). For example, the term “for
example” is used widely in written works as a transition from the main idea to the illustration of
that idea.
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Ethical proof (ethos) is describes in three parts; perceived intelligence, virtuous character,
and goodwill (Griffin, 2009, pp. 282-283). Griffin (2009) notes Aristotle argued that “audience
perceptions are shaped by what the speaker does or doesn’t say” (p. 282). In short, ethical proof
is the credibility the speaker lends to his or her discourse.
Finally, Aristotle recognized the importance of emotional appeal, or pathos. The
“emotional proof,” says Griffin (2009), “comes from the feelings the speech draws out of those
who hear it” (p. 284). It is this emotional connection that the speaker makes with the audience to
draw them into the dialogue.
The construction of the argument does not take in account the moral obligation of the
speaker. Aristotle was concerned with the delivery of the message and the ethics involved in
establishing the communication (Griffin, 2009). His concern was in both the art of persuasion
and the tone of delivery. Meeting both of these goals, he proposed conveying thoughts and
opinions that are honest and revealing without insensitive verbiage and hidden motives (Griffin,
2009).
Anthony Kenny’s An Illustrated Brief History of Western Philosophy reviews Aristotle’s
Rhetoric and summarizes the key principal of Aristotle’s rhetorical construct. Kenny says that
Aristotle believes “it is the thoughts expressed by the characters that arouse emotion in the hearer,
and if they are to do so successfully they must be presented convincingly by the actors” (2006, p.
67). Although the statement is applied to Greek drama, it parallels Aristotle’s intention in
devising persuasive discourse.
Summary
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The key components of Aristotle’s theory of rhetoric are straightforward and organized.
The five major cannons make up the framework from which persuasive speech is formulated.
However, it is in the construction of logos, ethos, and pathos with which the speaker has the
ability to influence the audience.
Aristotle’s formulation of ideas occurred over 2,000 years ago, yet these philosophies
continue to be debated. However, the rhetorical concepts are still actively used in modern
culture. This is evident in public speeches, textbooks, and even commercials. The active use of
rhetoric is a testament to the validity of Aristotle’s teachings and the ongoing production of
persuasive discourse.
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References
Aristotle (2005) Poetics and Rhetoric, introduction and notes by Eugene Garver. New York:
Barnes & Noble Classics.
Griffin, E. (2009). A first look at communication theory (7.th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher
Education.
Herman, A. (2013). The cave and the light: Plato versus Aristotle and the struggle for the soul of
western civilization. New York: Random House.
Kenny, A. (2006). An Illustrated Brief History of Western Philosophy. Malden: Blackwell
Publishing.
Shepherd, G. (2006). Communication as--: Perspectives on theory. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage
Publications.
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Appendix
Completed works include:

Ode to Virtue

Rhetoric

Poetics

Eudemian Ethics

Nichomachean Ethics

Politics

Categories

Physics

Metaphysics