Rhetoric: The ancient art of persuasion
Communication tools to inspire and motivate
Rhetoric has a bad reputation. It’s often used as an insult to suggest speech which is intended to deceive. In connection with the speech of politicians it implies they’re misrepresenting the facts. We associate rhetoric with propaganda, not truth.
There is some basis for this reputation. But to place a negative spin on rhetoric is itself a rhetorical device. We can’t avoid rhetoric, it surrounds us.
Whenever you try and persuade someone with logic, or values, or emotion, you’re using rhetorical tools. We can use tools for good or bad purposes. We can use rhetoric to motivate and inspire, but we can also use it deceive.
It’s reputation as a form of deception is unfortunate, because rhetoric has an ancient and noble pedigree. It originated in ancient Greece where it was considered an essential skill of leadership.
The word “rhetoric” comes from the Greek rhetorikos, meaning oratory. Rhetoric is the skill of statesmanship, eloquence and compromise, a form of practical wisdom.
Rhetoric is used to win arguments, not fights. You win a fight when you defeat your opponent. You win an argument when you persuade someone of your point of view.
