With enough practice and experience, different forms of communication can be used towards our benefit. The ability to persuade others means being able to alter people’s behavior and opinion towards a particular subject matter. In a democratic society, which literally translates to ‘the rule of the people’ from the Greek word demokratia, persuasion is an important tool for a democratic leader. Authors and Historians Plutarch, Thucydides, and Steven Pressfield provides us with examples of prominent Athenian public speakers who displayed powerful ethos, pathos, and/or logos in their address to the public. By perfecting the practice of public oration, a democratic leader will be able to motivate the public to act upon something and also change
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This was not because he did not hold those who died in battle with high esteem, rather, Pericles argued that there is not a justified way to speak of them – speaking too little would offend some and speaking too much would cause envy (Thucydides 39). As a result, he chose to speak of Athens instead. Over the course of his speech, Pericles displayed his aptitude in being a transformative leader. Understanding that Athenians are feeling pessimistic after the event, he reassures them with his pathos. Pericles showed how much faith he had in the men who fought for Athens. Although he admittedly did not want to over-praise the men who died in battle, he continually regurgitates the fact that these men are great role models and that they embody Athenian values: “Try to be like these men, therefore: realize that happiness lies in liberty, and liberty in valor, and do not hold back from the dangers of war” (Thucydides 44). Pericles’ main logos was arguing that Athens was a role model for other cities: “I say that our city as a whole is a lesson for Greece, and that each of us presents himself as a self-sufficient individual, disposed to the wildest possible diversity of actions, with every grace and great versatility” (Thucydides 42-43). Seeing that Athens was able to run on its own wealth, resources, and also had people of great character, Athens was obviously the powerhouse of Greece. He reinforces his main argument by claiming that Athens used their wealth for greater opportunities rather than showing it off. On this account, Pericles argued that Athens “should never be destroyed, and for which every man…who is left should be willing to endure distress” (Thucydides 43). Pericles asserts that the eminence of Athens should be preserved because men have died upholding it and that Athens did not deserve to perish. Once again, Pericles used the deceased
This was not because he did not hold those who died in battle with high esteem, rather, Pericles argued that there is not a justified way to speak of them – speaking too little would offend some and speaking too much would cause envy (Thucydides 39). As a result, he chose to speak of Athens instead. Over the course of his speech, Pericles displayed his aptitude in being a transformative leader. Understanding that Athenians are feeling pessimistic after the event, he reassures them with his pathos. Pericles showed how much faith he had in the men who fought for Athens. Although he admittedly did not want to over-praise the men who died in battle, he continually regurgitates the fact that these men are great role models and that they embody Athenian values: “Try to be like these men, therefore: realize that happiness lies in liberty, and liberty in valor, and do not hold back from the dangers of war” (Thucydides 44). Pericles’ main logos was arguing that Athens was a role model for other cities: “I say that our city as a whole is a lesson for Greece, and that each of us presents himself as a self-sufficient individual, disposed to the wildest possible diversity of actions, with every grace and great versatility” (Thucydides 42-43). Seeing that Athens was able to run on its own wealth, resources, and also had people of great character, Athens was obviously the powerhouse of Greece. He reinforces his main argument by claiming that Athens used their wealth for greater opportunities rather than showing it off. On this account, Pericles argued that Athens “should never be destroyed, and for which every man…who is left should be willing to endure distress” (Thucydides 43). Pericles asserts that the eminence of Athens should be preserved because men have died upholding it and that Athens did not deserve to perish. Once again, Pericles used the deceased