Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ρητορική, επιστήμες του ανθρώπου και εκπαίδευσηLibrary of the School of Education
Author:
Katsampanis Panagiotis
Supervisors info:
Γραμματική Κάρλα Επίκουρη καθηγήτρια Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Αθανάσιος Νάκας Ομότιμος καθηγητής Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Αθανάσιος Σαμαράς Επίκουρος καθηγητής Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς
Original Title:
Δημοσθένη και Αισχίνη ‘Περὶ τῆς παραπρεσβείας’ λόγοι: Αρνητικά ηθοτικά επιχειρήματα.
Translated title:
Demosthenes' and Aeschines' “On the False Embassy” orations: Ad hominem arguments
Summary:
The two judicial orations, “On the False Embassy” are most appropriate for exploring ad hominem arguments since such argumentation is widely employed by both Demosthenes and Aeschines.
This essay aims to discern and analyse the ad hominem arguments used in the two orations, applying the Walton taxonomy. Although the argumentation is weak and invalid in terms of strict logic, they are nevertheless convincing.
The reasons both orators insist on following this argumentation approach is not irrelevant to the political life and ideology of the Athenian Democracy. Democracy certainly limited violent behaviours through its institutions. However, freedom of speech and values of competitiveness allowed for insults and personal attacks to emerge.
Both Demosthenes and Aeschines emphasise the shared values among their fellow citizens. Such values are used as the foundation of their ad hominem arguments, which are then unleashed against their opponents.
Main subject category:
Social, Political and Economic sciences
Keywords:
rhetorics, ad hominem, arguments, Athens, democracy, Demosthenes, Aeschines
Number of references:
166
