Aristotle, Cicero and Quinitilian
When it comes to rhetorical delivery there are three main guys who really set up the foundation of the fifth cannon.
Aristotle, who is known as the "Father of Rhetoric", was an ancient Greek philosopher and student of Plato. Aristotle, unlike his mentor Plato, believed that rhetoric could become and was an actual art or techne. Although when it comes to the the five canons of rhetoric he did not give delivery much importance. He believed rhetoric was to be based on ethics. He wanted the rhetoric to be based strictly on facts, and did not want the rhetor to influence the audience with performance. In Aristotle's third book of Rhetoric he states that "we must pay attention to the subject of delivery, unworthy though it is, because we cannot do without it". Aristotle put more emphasis on voice when it comes to delivery saying "the way in which a thing is said does affect its intelligibility", although he did admit that performance may be the downfall of rhetoric. When it comes to voice it does not have "so much importance as people think. All such arts are fanciful and meant to charm the hearer. Nobody uses fine language when teaching geometry" (Aristotle's Rhetoric).
Aristotle, who is known as the "Father of Rhetoric", was an ancient Greek philosopher and student of Plato. Aristotle, unlike his mentor Plato, believed that rhetoric could become and was an actual art or techne. Although when it comes to the the five canons of rhetoric he did not give delivery much importance. He believed rhetoric was to be based on ethics. He wanted the rhetoric to be based strictly on facts, and did not want the rhetor to influence the audience with performance. In Aristotle's third book of Rhetoric he states that "we must pay attention to the subject of delivery, unworthy though it is, because we cannot do without it". Aristotle put more emphasis on voice when it comes to delivery saying "the way in which a thing is said does affect its intelligibility", although he did admit that performance may be the downfall of rhetoric. When it comes to voice it does not have "so much importance as people think. All such arts are fanciful and meant to charm the hearer. Nobody uses fine language when teaching geometry" (Aristotle's Rhetoric).
Cicero was one of the first to see delivery as an important factor within rhetoric. Cicero states himself in his third book of De Orate that "delivery, I say, has the sole and supreme power in oratory; without it, a speaker of the highest mental capacity can be held in no esteem; while one of moderate abilities, with this qualification, may surpass even those of the highest talent". Cicero believed that delivery has a great impact on rhetoric, putting most of the emphasis on voice saying that "to effectiveness and excellence in delivery the voice doubtless contributes most" (De Orate).
Quinitilian saw rhetoric as being "derived from the voice, the second from the gesture" as he states in his Institutio Oratio. He even gives his own directions as to how the rhetor should perform his delivery; down to how a rhetor should dress all the way to how they should gesture in their delivery. Although Quinitlian does give voice much power in rhetoric, he does admit that "the voice, however, must not be pressed beyond its powers, for it is liable to be choked" (Institutio Oratio).
Through these three men rhetoric really started to take it's bearing as an art or techne, and was able to evolve through the years into something more tangible.
1. How did these three men differ in their thoughts about rhetoric in a whole?
2. How do you think their separate opinions on rhetoric changed their views on delivery?
1. How did these three men differ in their thoughts about rhetoric in a whole?
2. How do you think their separate opinions on rhetoric changed their views on delivery?