Reading Blog 10

October 18, 2011

ARCS Ch. 8 & Margaret Fell; Thomas Wilson

Extrinsic Proofs: Arguments Waiting to be Used
This proof was divided by Aristotle into the intrinsic and extrinsic proofs.  Intrinsic proofs are invented by a rhetor, for example ethos, pathos and logos.  Extrinsic proofs include empirical evidence such as facts, data, artifacts and the testimony of authorities.  I find it interesting that many rhetoricians doubt Aristotle made this distinction but they all give him credit for it anyways.  It makes me think that Aristotle has always been at the forefront of rhetorical arguments.  He gets credit just for being who he is.  The act of using testimonies is also considered an intrinsic argument.  But many ancient rhetoricians usually did not trust the testimonies given by regular citizens, especially those from legal cases. It is necessary for those who view the testimony and accept the credibility of the people presenting and those they are presenting about.  It makes sense, I think this is still a valid concept today.  Using fact can be very effective if used correctly.  These facts must be shown as empirical data and must be current, there are a lot of criteria that make a fact relevant.  I guess that is a good thing, it makes them more effective and more valuable uses of the intrinsic proofs.

Margaret Fell
'Something changed for the better, during the Renaissance in women's sense of themselves, even if very little changed or changed for the better in their social condition.'  I like that they actually lost some control during the Renaissance, but in general women feel like they gained more than they lost.  By finding ways to get around the many authorities they came across and found ways to be happy and express themselves.  An increased opportunity for education was one factor of this change. The spread of Protestant Christianity helped this change as well.  I find it interesting though that they were only educated to become better Christians and better daughters and wives.  I feel like the point of education should be to question the real goings on of the world.  Margaret Fell is an interesting woman.  Two marriages, changing religious views and becoming a very important figure to the quakers.  She was an intellectual leader of her time, she promoted the participation of women in society.  I found it very interesting that she didn't speak because God spoke through her, she spoke because of how she felt.  She was a true player in the beginning of feminism.

Thomas Wilson
Wilson published the first English book to deal with the five parts of classical rhetoric: invention, arrangement, style, memory and delivery.  Rule of Reason is Wilson's form of Aristotle's dialectic- a rigorous exchange of views among experts in the subject under discussion.  Wilson calls this logic.  By sticking to the previous views, Wilson believes that through reason, people can rectify their fallen state.  But where would rhetoric fit in all of this?  It would only be the method of conveying the truths discovered by logic.  I really like the closed fist of logic and the open hand of rhetoric metaphor.  It is a very effective way of looking at the differences between logic and rhetoric.