Modern Day Sophistry: A Case Study
Reading Response #3 This week’s readings and discussion gave me a lot of insight on Sophistry, especially in regard to our current era. The question arises whether or not professional communication can be considered modern-day Sophistry and if someone can act ethically right when acting in accordance with a Sophistic notion of truth. To begin with, I want to stress several factors from the readings that indicate potential ethical problems that arise when assessing the Sophistic notion of truth. Most importantly, Sophists “insisted that persuasive arguments can always be made on either side of an issue” (p. 47) indicating that truth emerges through an exchange of arguments and counterarguments that would “yield a better view of the truth” (p. …show more content…
In my opinion, one can only answer this question when deciding on an approach to the term ethics. As we learned in our previous class, there are several approaches to ethics. One popular approach is the universal understanding of ethics that implies that our actions “should be the basis for action by everyone every time” (Ch. 3 Duties, p. 39) and basically indicates that it is unethical to lie. Therefore, lying in order to achieve something, such as marketing goals, would be considered unethical in accordance to the universal approach. Kant expands this approach: “Whenever you manipulate others for your own ends, you are using them as a means to get your way, not treating them as uniquely valuable individuals” (Ch. 3 Duties, p. 40). I am uncertain if one can assess the work of a PR or Marketing specialist as unethical, because they are not telling the truth (lying) to potential buyers – Companies do not necessarily recreate the truth. However, they sure do manipulate people’s buying decisions by persuading them of a/the truth through the use of strategic communication. Therefore, I believe that professional communicators cannot act ethically right in consideration of the universal approach to ethics. Even if professional communicators do not always recreate the truth, they are still manipulating potential buyers through persuasive language (strategic communication), just like the
Jay Heinrichs Book Report
787 Words | 4 PagesJay Heinrichs New York times Bestselling Author, husband of Dorothy and father of two, wrote four books and one of them based on the art of persuasion. Thank You For Arguing What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson can Teach us about The Art Of Persuasion, has been translated in twelve different languages and used in 3,000 college courses, gives us information on how to win an argument or get people on your side of one. Heinrichs uses different strategies to give us what he has learned so far on rhetoric. In the book he writes numerous chapters discussing the three major parts needed for this art. Ethos, pathos, and logos, Each analyzed in individual sections.
Rhetorical Analysis Of What You Eat Is Your Business By Radley Balko
309 Words | 2 PagesThe point of these oral presentations was analyze how the authors of the texts presented their persuasive arguments. The goal of my group in particular was to read the text carefully, more than once, and break down techniques that the author uses to make himself more credible, logical, and emotionally connected to the reader. My partners and I looked for patterns in the author’s writing style and tried to understand why he chose the words he used. In, What You Eat Is Your Business by, Radley Balko, it is evident that Balko uses humor and rhetorical questions to make his point that literally what you eat should be your own business.
Phyllis Tickle's Analysis
1749 Words | 7 PagesAnswer – Phyllis Tickle borrows an amazing analogy from an Anglican bishop named Mark Dryer to describe an occurrence that happens around every 500 years in the church; in which, the changes of the culture forces the church evaluate beliefs and doctrines (Tickle 152). Specifically, Tickle says, “It is the business of any rummage sale first to remove all of the old treasures that belonged to one’s parents so as to get on with the business of keeping house the new way” (Tickle 535-536). Her point can be seen in the example of the church teaching the earth was flat and the center of the universe, only to find out through Copernicus’ theory; and the later the sailing of Columbus, that the earth is round and not the center of the universe (Tickle
A Rhetorical Analysis Of Susie O Brien
1089 Words | 5 PagesIn using casual language, the writer makes the reader feel more comfortable, as if they were talking to a friend. Thus, this blatant use of persuasion assures readers of their stance and perhaps may prompt one who previously felt differently to change their viewpoint. This can be acutely alarming and will be discussed further in the immediate future. A highly controversial
Ethos Pathos Logos
549 Words | 3 PagesThe art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing is called rhetoric. Taking someone from a certain thought, point-of-view and pointing them towards another conclusion. Rhetoric began as a civic art in Ancient Greece where students were trained to develop tactics of oratorical persuasion, especially in legal disputes. A key role in business, persuasion, for people to understand your viewpoint and agree with you, especially when selling a product. Knowing how to convince people of your perspective is a valuable skill.
Rhetorical Analysis Of Nicholas Carr
355 Words | 2 Pagesteach, or to inform. In this specific situation Nicholas Carr’s purpose is to persuade the audience that the internet is deteriorating our brains and actually doing more harm than good. Throughout the article Carr uses a variety of different rhetorical strategies. One of the main strategies used is the strategy to appeal. In order to have a greater connection with the audience in hopes of persuasion Carr must appeal to them, whether it be through emotional appeal, logical appeal, or appealing through credibility.
Rhetorical Analysis: An Argumentative Piece Of Writing
414 Words | 2 PagesLogos, is the strongest of the three modes of persuasion, according to our Tuesday/Thursday class. When analyzing a text using rhetorical analysis, “knowing how to judge the quality of sources is more important now than ever before because the digital universe is full of junk,”(100). This is certainly relevant to modern days. All of high school I felt like I was surrounded by naive teenagers who did not know how to find a credible source in my English classes. However, at one point I was one of those
Rhetorical Brainwashing
197 Words | 1 PagesTake your prize. You have earned it. You have really earned it. The man who you voted into the presidency is a man who makes us horrified of being a citizen in this country. I do not know what to think because I cannot wrap my head around the decision.
Summary Of Julie Beck This Article Won T Change Your Mind Analysis
618 Words | 3 PagesIn Julie Beck’s informative article, “This Article Won 't Change Your Mind,” she explores and challenges the phenomenon that belief and choices are often influenced by a person’s moral characteristics and their environment. Beck first uses a short anecdote explaining how people often chooses to only believe the things that they want to believe. If a subject matter is too uncomfortable to discuss, people often become dismissive and choose not to acknowledge the unbearable truth. Beck then continues to pursue her argument by applying reliable studies in order to strengthen the ethicality of her beliefs. She uses sources such as T Leon Festinger’s study and Stanley Schachter’s book, When Prophecy Fails, in order to imbed undeniable facts into
The Iliad Rhetorical Analysis
697 Words | 3 PagesConvincing someone on believing that one persons’ opinion is more correct than someone else’s is a very large aspect of life now. Persuasion can become very useful when deciphering with other people in someone’s everyday
Propaganda In Brave New World
1287 Words | 6 Pages“To be a leader means to be able to move masses” (Adolf Hitler). The quote epitomizes both the Nazi party in Germany and the World State in the novel ‘Brave New World’. The Nazi’s and World state exercised propaganda to gain dictatorship and control over their people. It is not difficult for one man or society to dictate millions with the help of advanced technology and propaganda techniques. The propaganda techniques like card stacking, glittering generalities, and plain folks are used in the propaganda of the Nazi party(Adolf Hitler) and the World State .
Brave New World Propaganda Analysis
763 Words | 4 PagesPropaganda is used by the World State from the novel “Brave New World” and Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party. Propaganda is a way of persuading the masses for a certain organization or movement. It is a form of mind control and works on the fears and desires of the audience. The three forms of propaganda that the World State and Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party, use are the following. Bandwagon, convincing the audience to take advantage of the offer before it is too late.
Objective Truth In Plato's Allegory Of The Cave
817 Words | 4 PagesTruth is often a term that is taken into consideration when one is verbally speaking, but most find it rather difficult to truly define truth. While every person can attempt to uniquely give their own interpretation to what the world regards as truth, the realm of philosophy presents several brilliants ideas about the concept. In general, the study of philosophy recognizes two truths: objective and subjective. Objective truth can be described as truth that has always existed whether one knows it or not, while subjective truth is dependent on the person’s ideas and feelings towards a reality. Influential and well-known philosophers such as Mortimer J. Adler and Plato have contributed thoughts that often present similar ideas about the definition
Essay On Public Relations Ethics
1430 Words | 6 PagesPublic relations practitioners are faced with many challenges when it comes to abiding to the code of ethics in public relations, and making sure that they are accountable to the interest of the community, their clients and employers. In most situations these three groups of people have different expectations, values and beliefs, hence realistically it is very difficult to achieve perfect symmetry. As a result, practitioners are faced with many ethical dilemmas, as the area of ethics is a grey area. The definition of ethics explained by Parsons (2008) stated that public relations ethics is the application of knowledge, understanding and reasoning to questions on what is that right or wrong behaviour in professional practice of public relations.
Virtue Theory In Business Ethics
958 Words | 4 PagesVirtuous managers should begin by understanding what the facts are. Much of morality in business falls under the rubric of honesty. Honesty means being fit on reality. Dishonesty means self-delusion and in the long term, business will collapse. Honesty is closely related with success and it is one of the business virtues that managers should have.
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