11/28/97 Rhetorical Definition Assignment

After taking this course this semester, I have read many different ideas of what rhetoric is. Some of these philosophers include Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and many more. After understanding their views on rhetorical theory and how to reach ones conclusion. I have naturally changed the way I view Rhetoric. In the beginning of this course, I viewed rhetoric on structural level as only a way to achieve a concussion in a simple way fro written context. It seemed very plain in my original definition that it was to persuade a reader in an essay or document. I may have thought this because that was to the extent in which I have used rhetoric. Furthermore, studying and understanding Greek culture allowed for me to see the different uses of rhetorical discourse and use. For example the use of rhetoric for the good of the polis in political and judicial reasons has shaped the way I think about it. I think of rhetoric as a humanistic approach to give meaning in an object, art, or writing to create feeling or emotion and internal change to the audience. I honestly think that there can arguably have rhetoric brought into most things in our lives. This idea may contradict with a lot of the perspectives we studied, but I also feel thats the essential beauty and point of rhetoric.

Furthermore, the idea of how we derive knowledge, and what is knowledge are interesting topics regarding rhetoric. I know there are differences with Plato and Aristotle on this topic. I would side with Plato in that only some have the ability to fully understand some knowledge. Sometimes I feel like I am incapable of knowing some ideas fully, but that is just a natural human restraint. Therefore, I would say that my idea and understanding of rhetorical discourse and theory has evolved greatly and I am glad to have learned this topic deeper.