Page 213 - Gabrijela Kišiček and Igor Ž. Žagar (eds.), What do we know about the world? Rhetorical and argumentative perspectives, Digital Library, Educational Research Institute, Ljubljana 2013
P. 213
rhetoric – martial art or the art of winning
the soul by discourse? 213
The following passage is taken from the presidential debate held on 27th
June 2010, Bronisław Komorowski responds to the question on the sep-
aration of state and church, as well as financing in vitro fertilization:
(3) Ladies and gentleman, not only do I understand a problem of pater-
nity, but also, simply, raised five children. Five times did I experience happi-
ness of being a parent, a father, and I am the last person who would wish to
deprive young marriages or couples of hope, chances, and there are twenty
per cent of couples in Poland, who cannot have children. [...]. But we cannot
deprive others of that hope. The issues concerning a system of faith, or an
ethical one – here everyone needs to take decisions in his own conscience
whether to employ such method, regarding it as effective, or not. Personally,
I was, am and will be a supporter of the conciliar principle in effect between
the church and the state, namely mutual respect, respect for the autono-
my of the church by the state and the state by the church [...]. But the com-
promise is of high importance, the compromise which was arrived at while
working on the anti-abortion law, which allows specific exceptions connect-
ed also to human life, but it is utterly the law protecting life. I was, am and
will always be an advocate of life, I have experienced happiness five times, life
of my own children, welcoming lives of my own children, I will not deny an-
ybody the right to happiness.
Bearing in mind the theoretical background on pathos explicat-
ed above, we can enumerate a number of ploys to which Bronisław Ko-
morowski resorts, the first being the use of abstract concepts, e.g. hap-
piness, hope, faith, conscience, ethics, religion. By evoking abstract catego-
rization, Komorowski appeals to the emotions of the audience reflect-
ing their values, aspirations and experience, the concept of positive face
is also brought into play. He is aware of the fact that by alluding to the
concepts the audience prizes greatly, he will win their votes. Moreover,
he places himself in the position of an expert owing to the experience
he has gained, making himself worthy of being trusted. Komorowski is
sure of his opinion and voices it firmly. Nevertheless, finding some space
for a compromise he, conversely, displays openness and flexibility. In the
field of the stylistic and syntactic structures we can also spot some exam-
ples, i.e. rhythmic patterns, emphatic structures and repetition.
3.1.4. Logos
Logos denotes “reasoned discourse”, argument from reason. Accord-
ing to Aristotle (1959: 17), logos relates to “the speech itself, in so far as it
proves or seems to prove”. Persuasion “by speech itself ” can be achieved
only if “the true” or “apparently true” can be extracted from the ways
the soul by discourse? 213
The following passage is taken from the presidential debate held on 27th
June 2010, Bronisław Komorowski responds to the question on the sep-
aration of state and church, as well as financing in vitro fertilization:
(3) Ladies and gentleman, not only do I understand a problem of pater-
nity, but also, simply, raised five children. Five times did I experience happi-
ness of being a parent, a father, and I am the last person who would wish to
deprive young marriages or couples of hope, chances, and there are twenty
per cent of couples in Poland, who cannot have children. [...]. But we cannot
deprive others of that hope. The issues concerning a system of faith, or an
ethical one – here everyone needs to take decisions in his own conscience
whether to employ such method, regarding it as effective, or not. Personally,
I was, am and will be a supporter of the conciliar principle in effect between
the church and the state, namely mutual respect, respect for the autono-
my of the church by the state and the state by the church [...]. But the com-
promise is of high importance, the compromise which was arrived at while
working on the anti-abortion law, which allows specific exceptions connect-
ed also to human life, but it is utterly the law protecting life. I was, am and
will always be an advocate of life, I have experienced happiness five times, life
of my own children, welcoming lives of my own children, I will not deny an-
ybody the right to happiness.
Bearing in mind the theoretical background on pathos explicat-
ed above, we can enumerate a number of ploys to which Bronisław Ko-
morowski resorts, the first being the use of abstract concepts, e.g. hap-
piness, hope, faith, conscience, ethics, religion. By evoking abstract catego-
rization, Komorowski appeals to the emotions of the audience reflect-
ing their values, aspirations and experience, the concept of positive face
is also brought into play. He is aware of the fact that by alluding to the
concepts the audience prizes greatly, he will win their votes. Moreover,
he places himself in the position of an expert owing to the experience
he has gained, making himself worthy of being trusted. Komorowski is
sure of his opinion and voices it firmly. Nevertheless, finding some space
for a compromise he, conversely, displays openness and flexibility. In the
field of the stylistic and syntactic structures we can also spot some exam-
ples, i.e. rhythmic patterns, emphatic structures and repetition.
3.1.4. Logos
Logos denotes “reasoned discourse”, argument from reason. Accord-
ing to Aristotle (1959: 17), logos relates to “the speech itself, in so far as it
proves or seems to prove”. Persuasion “by speech itself ” can be achieved
only if “the true” or “apparently true” can be extracted from the ways
