This lecture in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy’s Classical Rhetoric course explores Chapter 2 of Book I of Aristotle’s Rhetoric. Presented by William Michael, headmaster of the Academy, this lesson examines Aristotle’s definition of rhetoric as the power of perceiving in every case the means of persuasion. Students will learn how Aristotle distinguishes rhetoric from other arts, defining it as a universal method applicable to all subjects. The lecture introduces the two kinds of proofs—non-artificial proofs that exist independently of the speaker, and artificial proofs that must be created through rhetorical skill—and develops the famous three modes of persuasion: ethos, pathos, and logos.
Through a careful reading and interpretation of the text, the lecture demonstrates how Aristotle links rhetoric to dialectic, ethics, and political science, showing that true rhetoric depends upon logical reasoning, virtuous character, and psychological understanding. Students will also explore Aristotle’s treatment of the enthymeme and example as the two forms of rhetorical argumentation, and the distinction between necessary and probable reasoning in persuasive speech.
This lesson provides essential insight into the foundations of classical rhetoric and its enduring influence on Catholic intellectual tradition, particularly through St. Thomas Aquinas’s integration of Aristotelian philosophy into moral theology. Students enrolled in the course are encouraged to review the text, memorize key principles, and complete the related assessments to demonstrate mastery of Aristotle’s teaching.
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