Items related to The Philosophy Of Rhetoric

The Philosophy Of Rhetoric - Softcover

George Campbell

 
9780461315486: The Philosophy Of Rhetoric

Synopsis

The Philosophy Of Rhetoric by George Campbell. The book is a treatise on persuasion and the art of elocution. In the volume, Campbell develops a theory of rhetorical success by analyzing the foundations of elocution: purity, perspicuity, vivacity, elegance, animation, and music. He argues that clear expression must match the sentiment, that beauty depends not only on the content but on the fit of language to mind: the imagination, the passions, and the ear. The book divides into sections on the discriminating properties of Elocution, with chapters on proper terms versus tropes, the uses and limits of vivacity, the role of Tropes (metaphor, synecdoche, metonymy, etc.), and the power of connectives and arrangement. It surveys periods vs sentences, antithesis, and the art of balancing brevity with emphasis, concluding with cautions against affectation and pedantry. Campbell also contrasts Greek/Latin concision with modern European languages, arguing that cadence, order, and dexterity in linking ideas are essential to persuasive discourse. The work remains a foundational study in rhetoric and linguistic style.

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