Pathos
Emotion is at the heart of pathos. A pathetic appeal centers upon evoking an emotion in the audience that aids in it being persuaded to accept a certain claim. Pathos often serves to keep the audience engaged in what the speaker is saying. It frequently comes in the form of an anecdote or story or even a simple reminder of a familiar emotional subject. For example, a lobbyist might try to influence her audience's opinion on gun control by telling a story about a mother of three being shot to death. In Aristotle's opinion a pathetic appeal works best when tempered with a logical one. Basically, he feels that pathetic appeals can be very effective, but should not be the sole basis of an argument.
Functions of Pathos
- Stir Emotions
- Keep Audience Interested
- Take Audience's Guard Down
How does this relate to Bush's Outline of Iraqi Threat?
CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW BUSH USES PATHOS
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