RHETORIC AS A VALUE

It is necessary to start considering the problem of the rhetoric axiological essence by answering the question about the subject of consideration, i.e. if rhetoric does have any axiological essence, if it is of any value as a human activity. This problem was major in rhetoric even at the time of its beginning, in the ancient world. That is why it is so important and interesting to retrace the logic and arguments of the views on the question by ancient philosophers. Firstly, it is Plato's attitude denying rhetoric if it is not aimed at the attainment of the truth and does not follow one and the only logic of its attainment. Secondly, it is Aristotle's attitude recognizing the importance of rhetoric as a necessary means of achieving an ethically correct solution to social issues. Thirdly, it is Cicero's attitude recognizing the great importance of rhetoric for social life and the necessity for orators to be guided by the achievements of social studies. And the last is the attitude of Plato's opponents in their dialogues Gorgias and Phaedrus as well as Antony in the first and in the beginning of the second book of Cicero's dialogue On the Orator. According to this attitude rhetoric is extremely important as a means of ensuring citizens' interests in society without paying attention to the truth or ethic of rhetorical devices, but to their efficiency only. Axiological essence of these and some other approaches becomes the subject of another research. However, having analysed the attitudes to rhetoric offered by the ancient philosophers, it is possible to draw a conclusion that the most important thing for revealing axiological essence of the orator's attitude is examination of orator's intentions. The second important question is what should (in the orator's opinion) mostly guarantee the success of the speech. And finally, the third important aspect of revealing axiological essence of the orator's attitude is estimation of axiological orientation of specific rhetorical devices.

Keywords

Authors

References