Week of September 22 Thursday Post

The reading on passionate appeal was interesting, at least the first four pages that I read. Out of all of Aristotle’s emotional appeals I believe pathos is the most essential to the three. I agree with the idea in the reading that stated, “we can’t think without emotions.” Eventually every rhetorician is bound to let their emotions override their mind and argue what true feelings he or she has on a subject, and to some extent it is a positive reaction, although it can also be a reaction that questions one’s appeal. In the case of arguing with a single individual revealing your emotions can help one demonstrate her or his point to the opposition. Emotions demonstrate a passion that denotes a rhetors opinion on a topic and how strong they feel about it. If a rhetor is able to successfully utilize emotion to appeal to his or her audience then the audience relatively envisions a passionate rhetor that truly believes in what she or he is arguing.

            On the other hand, letting your emotions get the best of you can also have dire consequences when trying to persuade your audience. I believe it is appropriate to allow more emotions during private conversations than with public speaking. Politicians normally keep their cool whenever they address an audience. At least I do not see them yelling at their audience or demonstrate an extreme level of emotion during their speeches. I believe the passage is correct when proclaiming, “the rhetor’s and the audience’s dispositions each shape the other.” If the audience is not ‘feeling’ what the rhetor is orating they usually let her or him know through the questions that are asked or by mere interruption. Like the quote states, I am sure the audience effects the rhetor’s emotions and the rhetor effects the audience’s emotions. It is for this reason I believe individuals like politicians speak broadly when addressing their audience. Furthermore, they also seem to answer questions and remarks by swaying away from the actual question that was asked. I believe this is a strategy that allows them to control their oration in a manner that allows them to seem understanding, yet still allows them to get their point across.