
The ethics of rhetoric (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Moral Persuasion, Classical Rhetoric, and the Ethics of Public LanguageBy Richard M. WeaverLength9h 36m
About this audiobook
Richard M. Weaver's The Ethics of Rhetoric is a rigorous inquiry into persuasion as a moral art rather than a merely technical instrument. Moving from Plato's Phaedrus to modern public discourse, Weaver distinguishes rhetoric that leads the soul toward truth from rhetoric that manipulates appetite and circumstance. His style is aphoristic, classical, and polemically elegant, joining close textual analysis with cultural criticism. Especially influential are his discussions of "god terms" and "devil terms," and his hierarchy of arguments, where definition embodies the highest appeal to order. Weaver, an American literary critic and rhetorician associated with the University of Chicago, wrote from the standpoint of a humanist alarmed by modernity's erosion of metaphysical and linguistic standards. A Southern Agrarian and the author of Ideas Have Consequences, he believed that public language reveals a civilization's moral condition. His training in literature, philosophy, and classical rhetoric informs the book's insistence that style, argument, and ethical vision cannot be separated. This book is recommended for readers interested in rhetoric, political language, conservative thought, or the moral responsibilities of communication. It remains valuable not because it offers a neutral handbook, but because it asks what persuasion is for, and what kind of person or society it forms.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreOther
Length9 hrs 36 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 6, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The ethics of rhetoric (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Chapter I THE PHAEDRUS AND THE NATURE OF RHETORIC
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6Chapter II DIALECTIC AND RHETORIC AT DAYTON, TENNESSEE
7Chapter III EDMUND BURKE AND THE ARGUMENT FROM CIRCUMSTANCE
8Chapter IV ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THE ARGUMENT FROM DEFINITION
9Chapter V SOME RHETORICAL ASPECTS OF GRAMMATICAL CATEGORIES
10The Noun
11The Adjective
12The Adverb
13The Verb
14The Conjunction
15The Preposition
16The Phrase
17In Conclusion
18Chapter VI MILTON’S HEROIC PROSE
19Chapter VII THE SPACIOUSNESS OF OLD RHETORIC
20Chapter VIII THE RHETORIC OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
21I
22II
23III
24IV
25V
26VI
27Chapter IX ULTIMATE TERMS IN CONTEMPORARY RHETORIC
28Footnote
29Analysis
30Reflection
31Memorable Quotes