In this section, Socrates and Phaedrus discuss rhetoric and how it is used, and there were a few sentences that stuck out to me. For example:
Soc. The disgrace begins when a man writes not well, but badly.
Phaedr. Clearly.
This strikes me as humorous because I agree with this statement. I always correct people when they speak or write and use grammar or language incorrectly. For instance, if I heard someone say, "I did good on that test." I would polietly respond, "No, you did well."
That goes the same way if/when I see people use "text language" in academic papers. I once edited a paper where someone wrote, "It's a great place if u like warm weather." I would be more content with that person had he or she made a more complex mistake, but something as silly as "u" versus "you" is just pitiful! I think Socrates was on to something by saying the disgrace begins with just poor English, writing, or speaking skills. Shoo!
Another part that stuck out to me was the response Phaedrus gave to Socrates saying:
Phaedr. And yet, Socrates, I have heard that he who would be an orator has nothing to do with true justice, but only with that which is likely to be approved by the many who sit in judgment; nor with the truly good or honourable, but only with opinion about them, and that from opinion comes persuasion, and not from the truth.
In communication classes we are taught that pathos, ethos and logos are important in persuasion/rhetoric. In this case, the ethos would be questioned if people said what they thought their audience wanted to hear.
What if Jesus just said what his opposition wanted to hear? What he if denied that he was Christ? What if, since Jesus knew he was not welcomed by many, he lied about who he was? What if, what if, what if?!
Where would we be?
People need to be challenged. People need to hear what they might not want to hear in order for them to learn and grow. I am thankful for people who stand up for themselves, or stand their ground in situations because they will not give in to that peer pressure of answering/speaking to a crowd with the crowd's well-being in mind. Speak out! Be brave! Stand up for what you believe in!
Whoo. I'm getting all worked up.
What are your thoughts on this all? In certain circumstances, is it okay to say what the person wants to hear? Think of sales for example. Maybe a person isn't sure whether they really need another pair of shoes. But after a sales person insists they make the outfit complete and that they will save money today since they are on sale, the person gives in because he/she hears what he/she wants to hear.
So where do you draw the line? When is it okay to speak your mind and when is it (if ever) okay to say what people want to hear? Hmm...
Soc. The disgrace begins when a man writes not well, but badly.
Phaedr. Clearly.
This strikes me as humorous because I agree with this statement. I always correct people when they speak or write and use grammar or language incorrectly. For instance, if I heard someone say, "I did good on that test." I would polietly respond, "No, you did well."
That goes the same way if/when I see people use "text language" in academic papers. I once edited a paper where someone wrote, "It's a great place if u like warm weather." I would be more content with that person had he or she made a more complex mistake, but something as silly as "u" versus "you" is just pitiful! I think Socrates was on to something by saying the disgrace begins with just poor English, writing, or speaking skills. Shoo!
Another part that stuck out to me was the response Phaedrus gave to Socrates saying:
Phaedr. And yet, Socrates, I have heard that he who would be an orator has nothing to do with true justice, but only with that which is likely to be approved by the many who sit in judgment; nor with the truly good or honourable, but only with opinion about them, and that from opinion comes persuasion, and not from the truth.
In communication classes we are taught that pathos, ethos and logos are important in persuasion/rhetoric. In this case, the ethos would be questioned if people said what they thought their audience wanted to hear.
What if Jesus just said what his opposition wanted to hear? What he if denied that he was Christ? What if, since Jesus knew he was not welcomed by many, he lied about who he was? What if, what if, what if?!
Where would we be?
People need to be challenged. People need to hear what they might not want to hear in order for them to learn and grow. I am thankful for people who stand up for themselves, or stand their ground in situations because they will not give in to that peer pressure of answering/speaking to a crowd with the crowd's well-being in mind. Speak out! Be brave! Stand up for what you believe in!
Whoo. I'm getting all worked up.
What are your thoughts on this all? In certain circumstances, is it okay to say what the person wants to hear? Think of sales for example. Maybe a person isn't sure whether they really need another pair of shoes. But after a sales person insists they make the outfit complete and that they will save money today since they are on sale, the person gives in because he/she hears what he/she wants to hear.
So where do you draw the line? When is it okay to speak your mind and when is it (if ever) okay to say what people want to hear? Hmm...
LOL. Of course, Socrates wouldn't lament "poor English;" he'd lament "poor Greek." Or he might lament writing, in general. Plato eschewed writing but is still famous because he wrote down his complaints. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood questions. Negative campaign ads? (They're effective.) Public relations spin? (Effective.) But they can create a lot of cynicism (not effective).