Defining Rhetoric

Aristotle defines rhetoric as "the faculty of discovering in every case the available means of persuasion". Rhetoric according to Aristotle is supposed to uphold 4 values:

1.) To uphold truth and justice and play down their opposites

2.) To teach in a way suitable to a popular audience

3.) To analyze both sides of a question

4.) To enable one to defend oneself

In layman terms, Aristotle uses rhetoric to find the most logical answer to a question or problem. He believed in probability and facts. The way I always saw it was that Aristotle's rhetoric would be perfect for law and government. Imagine a debate between 2 politicians, both would try (if they aren't corrupt) to use facts and probable information to persuade an audience.

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