Middlebury

PSCI 0249

How to Win the Argument

How to Win the Argument: Rhetoric and Democracy
Arguments shape the progress of free society. From "Four score and seven" to "never surrender," to "I have a dream," we celebrate the power of rhetoric to motivate political action. Yet rhetoric can mislead as well, and its techniques appear to involve a form of manipulation. In this class, we will examine the "arts" of rhetoric, and the philosophical debates surrounding the role of rhetoric in politics. Readings include political speeches (Lincoln, Churchill, King), plays (Aristophanes, Shakespeare), ancient philosophies of rhetoric (Plato, Aristotle), and modern theories of speech and "public reason" (Mill, Rawls). We will prepare and practice public speech-making in class, and we will compose and revise our own analytical and rhetorical prose.
Subject:
Political Science
Department:
Political Science
Division:
Social Sciences
Requirements Fulfilled:
CW EUR SOC
Equivalent Courses:
PSCI 1046
CLAS 0249
CLAS 1046

Sections in Winter 2025