Question

The ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, wrote the Rhetoric, one of the most famous works on the art of persuasion. In the treatise, he outlines the main rhetorical appeals to an audience: ethos (author credibility), pathos (emotions), and logos (logic and reasoning). How does Mandela use these appeals to advance his argument? Use specific textual evidence to support your response.

Answer 1

Aristotle identifies ethos, logos, and pathos as key to effective persuasion, which figures like Mandela would utilize by establishing credibility, using logical arguments, and appealing to emotions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote about the art of persuasion in his work, the Rhetoric. In it, Aristotle identifies three main rhetorical appeals: ethos (credibility), logos (reasoning and logic), and pathos (emotional appeal) as key strategies in effectively arguing a point. While I cannot provide specific textual evidence of how Nelson Mandela used these appeals without a reference to a particular speech or text, in general, a speaker like Mandela would employ ethos by establishing his credentials and trustworthiness, logos by presenting logical arguments supported by facts, and pathos by evoking emotions such as hope, unity, and resilience in his audience.