What is rhetoric?

The concept of "rhetoric" originated in the AncientGreece. On the question, what is rhetoric, in that far time you would have answered that this is the science of oratorical art. However, later the meaning of this word has somewhat expanded. Under the rhetoric began to understand the theory of argumentation or the theory of prose.

Another question is logical: what does rhetoric study? Assuming that rhetoric is a philological discipline, it goes without saying that rhetoric studies the art of speech, eloquence, oratorical art, the rules for constructing an artistic speech.

About rhetoric: background

According to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle,The inventor of rhetoric is Pythagorean Empedocles. Peru of his disciple Corax belongs to the first treatise on rhetoric. It defines eloquence as a worker of persuasion, and the main purpose of the speaker is not the discovery of truth, but persuasiveness and clarity.

A widely known theoreticalA treatise of Aristotle himself called "Rhetoric." However, the practical guidance on the rhetoric of Anaximenes, as well as the well-known speaker of Cicero turned out to be more in demand at the time.

By the way, about fame. The names of Julius Caesar, Tacitus, Ovid, Seneca, Luke are somehow connected with the development of rhetoric.

Later, in the Renaissance and Classicism,rhetoric was transformed into a theory applicable to all artistic prose. Known work on this discipline was considered a treatise by Fenelon "Discourse on eloquence." According to Fenelon, each person's speech must be demonstrative (this is an ordinary style), picturesque (medium style), fascinating (high style).

Later, this most Western theory of three stylesapplied to the Russian language in the treatise "On the Benefits of Church Books" by Mikhailo Lomonosov. He is the author of the "Brief guide to eloquence" - the first treatise on rhetoric in Russia.