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Rhetorical Reflection on the Method of Argument in Debate
Journal of Humanities
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Role of persuasion in all human relations is necessary, and there is no human organization which does not depend on persuasion to alter the other’s mind and behavior. Likewise, persuasion plays a critical role in a situation of public speech where one’s argument and thought to be delivered. It cannot be a good speech without appealing and persuasive power no matter how rational and acceptable argument it is; debate is also limited to this sphere of communication. By focusing on persuasive aspect of debate, this paper reflects the method of rhetorical argument, one of the major factor that educe persuasion. It must be noted that in a rhetorical situation, the precise logical argument is less likely to possess a persuasive power; and there is a reason here that in rhetorics, method of rhetorical argument is used by the division of precise dialectical argument. Likewise the rhetorical situation, persuasion in debate is affected by complex factors. In debate, method of rhetorical argument could become one model since it is difficult to acquire the persuasive power solely with logical statement. This argument method is a unique that can have a public persuasive power; and is distinguished from the method of logical argument confined to the formative structure or characteristics of its argument. It is necessary to have a method of rhetorical argument which possess a persuasive power rather than a simple logical statement in debatable situation. A debater only skilled in method of logical argument, he or she is likely to face a contradictory situation where what his or her saying is right but not being able to persuade. This is why, in a debate, both rhetorical mind and argument method is necessary. This paper illuminates a rhetorical aspect in debate and suggests the method of rhetorical argument adequate to debate by focusing on Aristotle’s rhetoric inference.
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