The Power of Rhetoric

First, I wish to express how Williams impressed me with his--quite thorough--
tour of the history of rhetoric. Not only that, but I think I can include an introductory overview of the History of Western Philosophy. My first degree was in Philosophy back when I live as impractical as I now find the study of philosophy to be. But Williams helped re-kinder that certain appeal that I had forgotten about. The very nature of human inquiry allows us to take a bird's eye view off where we are, what we are doing and what needs to b done.

Even the very act of writing--of course my point must stay connected to the point of this class, to learn to write--escapes the very purpose of the act of writing itself. Somehow, we forget what we are tying to accomplish. I mean, no longer do we practice the "acrobats" of speech as Williams expresses. We are actually trying to "Convince", "Persuade"! At least, this is the rhetorical character which stands for, what we know as: writing papers, writing letters, even writing song lyrics. I think it's all about enticing others with your point-of view, bringing others over to your side It's about getting what you want to say into the readr's mental path. They must hear;they must consider.

Williams outlined the progression of the evolution--so to speak--of rhetoric. From simple acts of entertainment, as the Sophist specialized in, to the litigation of Cicero, to the pure quest for a priori truths, to writing a really powerful-- or even a pretty good paper-- understanding the various elements to rhetoric, the devices and how to effectively use them, can transform one's writing into another level of good.