Examples of Aristotle’s theory of rhetoric and persuasion

History provides compelling illustrations of the rhetoric and persuasion techniques identified by Aristotle (384-322 BC) in his work “Rhetoric.” John Vespasian explains that Demosthenes (384-322 BC), who was born in the same year as Aristotle and died roughly at the same age as Aristotle, gave inspiration for the Aristotelian principles of rhetoric. Demosthenes made repeated speeches in Athens, explaining the threats arising from King Philip II of Macedonia. Those speeches had the goal of convincing Athenian citizens to prepare the defence of their city against upcoming attacks from Macedonia. Pericles (490-429 BC), another talented speaker, was also Aristotle’s contemporary. His leadership in the Peloponnese War and his funerary oration in honour of the fallen Athenian soldiers exemplify the best in Aristotle’s theory of rhetoric. In the ensuing centuries, the Roman senator Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-143 BC) provides the best example of Aristotelian rhetoric put into practice. In addition to being a great speaker, Cicero composed a public speaking handbook (“The Orator”), where he expands the principles identified by Aristotle. Marcus Fabius Quintilianus (35-100 AD) took Cicero’s call for consistency between ethos, pathos and logos, and elevated it to a higher level. Quintilianus (“Quintilian”) compiled all his teachings on rhetoric in a handbook titled “Institutio Oratoria.” Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/examples-of-aristotles-theory-of-rhetoric-and-persuasion/