Logos, Ethos, Pathos

1. Logos, Ethos, Pathos The Three Appeals of Argument

2. Logos • Rational appeal

3. Logos • Based on logical argument & appropriate evidence • Logical arguments commonly of two types: • Deductive • Inductive

4. Logos • Deductive reasoning: • Begins with a generalization • Cites a specific case related to the generalization • Ends with a conclusion based on the above

5. Logos • Example of deductive reasoning: (from Aristotle) • All men are mortal. (generalization) • Socrates is a man. (specific case) • Socrates is mortal. (conclusion about the specific case)

6. Logos • Inductive reasoning: • Begins with several pieces of specific evidence • Draws generalization and conclusion from this evidence

7. Logos • Same example switched to inductive reasoning: • Socrates is mortal. Plato is mortal. Pythagoras is mortal. (specific cases) • All men are mortal. (generalization and conclusion)

8. Ethos • Ethical appeal

9. Ethos • Refers not to the ethics of the argument, but to the ethics of the person making the argument • (e.g. shows that the person making the argument has a certain degree of credibility, is of good character and sounds sense, and is qualified to be making the argument

10. Pathos • Emotional appeal

11. Pathos • It is appropriate to use emotional appeal in your argument • Trouble occurs when you make this the sole or primary basis of your argument

12. Pathos • Use in conjunction with logos to reach your audience • Emotions appeal to audience more powerfully than reason alone • Can be used effectively in anecdotal evidence