Rhetoric

In Rhetoric, the Greek philosopher Aristotle offers both theory and instruction upon the power of eloquent speech, particularly its uses in political oratory delivered to an audience. Composed amid the popular Greek culture, in which aspiring and reigning politicians would perfect the oratorical arts to influence voting and their subjects, Rhetoric is a summation of an art whose poignancy and power could change the face of an entire society. Mindful of the distinctions to be made between speech with an emotional argument, and speech espousing a rational argument, Aristotle examines both while making further subdivisions. Together with the qualities essential in the actual speech, the philosopher also mentions the knowledge which all speakers aspiring to public office should hold ahead of giving speeches. This edition of the Rhetoric utilizes the classic translation by John Henry Freese, a Cambridge academic who authored numerous translations of, and essays concerning, classical antiquity.