A Dissertation On Rhetoric

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.

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Rhetoric has traditionally studied acts of persuasion in the affairs of government and men, but this work investigates the language of other, non-traditional rhetors, including immigrants, women, urban children and others who have long been on the margins of civic life and political forums.

Excerpt from A Dissertation on RhetoricGreatest of all that great master's productions, is an assertion which I do not singly hazard. The.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.