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Classical Rhetorical Argumentation for the Rhetorical Critic

Hietanen, Mika LU orcid (2025) In Routledge Studies in Rhetoric and Communication
Abstract
This book offers a reassessment of argumentation in classical rhetoric, foregrounding its rational dimension. Moving beyond introductions, it provides insights from Aristotle, Quintilian, and other ancient thinkers while addressing common misconceptions and offering clarifications that are particularly valuable for the rhetorical critic.

Adopting a Scandinavian rhetorical perspective, this book argues that classical rhetoric offers enduring tools for both the analysis and the construction of persuasive argumentation. By bridging theory and practice, it demonstrates how classical rhetoric remains highly relevant, while also naturally integrating with analyses that focus on classical concepts such as ethos, pathos, or style –... (More)
This book offers a reassessment of argumentation in classical rhetoric, foregrounding its rational dimension. Moving beyond introductions, it provides insights from Aristotle, Quintilian, and other ancient thinkers while addressing common misconceptions and offering clarifications that are particularly valuable for the rhetorical critic.

Adopting a Scandinavian rhetorical perspective, this book argues that classical rhetoric offers enduring tools for both the analysis and the construction of persuasive argumentation. By bridging theory and practice, it demonstrates how classical rhetoric remains highly relevant, while also naturally integrating with analyses that focus on classical concepts such as ethos, pathos, or style – whether through neo-Aristotelian methods or contemporary approaches rooted in the classical rhetorical tradition. Key concepts are explored in dedicated chapters: the ‘art’ of logos-based argumentation is reassessed; enthymeme and epicheireme structures are examined; and topoi and staseis are discussed in relation to their later developments. A chapter on the centenary of rhetorical criticism traces its evolution from Herbert Wichelns (1925) to today, proposing a new template for the rhetorical critic.

This concise yet comprehensive book will interest intermediate and advanced students, as well as scholars of rhetoric, argumentation, persuasion, speech and writing studies, and communication studies. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Book/Report
publication status
published
subject
keywords
classical rhetoric, pisteis, staseis, topoi, enthymeme, epicheireme, rhetorical criticism, argumentation, rhetorical argumentation evaluation
in
Routledge Studies in Rhetoric and Communication
pages
162 pages
publisher
Routledge
ISBN
978‑1‑032‑61253‑9
978‑1‑032‑61254‑6
978‑1‑003‑46274‑3
DOI
10.4324/9781003462743
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ba25cf51-d2cb-4c61-8a01-7dc011639b1d
date added to LUP
2025-01-13 20:25:12
date last changed
2025-07-17 03:23:36
@book{ba25cf51-d2cb-4c61-8a01-7dc011639b1d,
  abstract     = {{This book offers a reassessment of argumentation in classical rhetoric, foregrounding its rational dimension. Moving beyond introductions, it provides insights from Aristotle, Quintilian, and other ancient thinkers while addressing common misconceptions and offering clarifications that are particularly valuable for the rhetorical critic.<br/><br/>Adopting a Scandinavian rhetorical perspective, this book argues that classical rhetoric offers enduring tools for both the analysis and the construction of persuasive argumentation. By bridging theory and practice, it demonstrates how classical rhetoric remains highly relevant, while also naturally integrating with analyses that focus on classical concepts such as ethos, pathos, or style – whether through neo-Aristotelian methods or contemporary approaches rooted in the classical rhetorical tradition. Key concepts are explored in dedicated chapters: the ‘art’ of logos-based argumentation is reassessed; enthymeme and epicheireme structures are examined; and topoi and staseis are discussed in relation to their later developments. A chapter on the centenary of rhetorical criticism traces its evolution from Herbert Wichelns (1925) to today, proposing a new template for the rhetorical critic.<br/><br/>This concise yet comprehensive book will interest intermediate and advanced students, as well as scholars of rhetoric, argumentation, persuasion, speech and writing studies, and communication studies.}},
  author       = {{Hietanen, Mika}},
  isbn         = {{978‑1‑032‑61253‑9}},
  keywords     = {{classical rhetoric; pisteis; staseis; topoi; enthymeme; epicheireme; rhetorical criticism; argumentation; rhetorical argumentation evaluation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Routledge Studies in Rhetoric and Communication}},
  title        = {{Classical Rhetorical Argumentation for the Rhetorical Critic}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003462743}},
  doi          = {{10.4324/9781003462743}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}