Introduction
Charles Colson’s speech at the 1998 Geneva College commencement ceremony is an excellent example of a rhetorical speech that impacts the attitudes and behaviors of others. To be persuasive, the speaker must assess the audience and communicate to them in ways that will persuade them (Manny, 2020). Stucki and Sager (2018) emphasize that, according to Aristotle, rhetoric is based on the interaction of three elements: ethos, pathos, and logos. Persuasion occurs when the speech is given in such a way that the orator is worthy of trust (ethos) when the speech evokes emotions in the audience (pathos), and when the speech establishes truth (logos) (Stucki & Sager, 2018). Therefore, appealing to the listener’s sense of logos, ethos, and pathos is crucial to developing a persuasive discourse. Colson’s message was about people’s character and why it is valued. The paper will analyze numerous appeals in Colson’s speech and address significant logical fallacies.
Ethos
Charles Colson directly appeals to the audience’s ethics and strives to persuade listeners that character counts in governance and even in their everyday routines. Beqiri (2018) emphasizes that ethos is derived from Greek words that mean character and ethics. Ethos is the process of persuading the listener that the speaker is of good character and that his statements can be believed (Beqiri, 2018). The ethos of the speech must be set from the start, or the audience will reject what is stated. Colson’s speech includes various theological comments to inform the audience that he has altered his character due to the Watergate scandal and believes God forgives his previous transgression. Quinn (2022) acknowledges that Colson pled guilty to obstruction of justice in Richard Nixon’s Watergate incident in the 1970s and served seven months in federal prison for it. Afterward, he changed his life and founded a faith-based non-profit ministry with teaching based on a Christian perspective (Quinn, 2022). Colson delivered this speech many years later, in 1998, after witnessing the devastation caused by dishonesty and a lack of ethics.
Ethos relates to the speaker’s or writer’s integrity and trustworthiness. Charles Colson has renounced himself with the image of a man of God to build benevolence and virtue. Because of the speaker’s experience, the listener is challenged to consider the character in this circumstance. The audience believes in the ethics of the speaker’s inquiry and speech because of his experience and gradual shift. Colson has constructed his character in various speech instances by emphasizing his convictions and practices. For instance, Colson claims that if he did not realize that Christ had taken away his sins, he would suffocate in their stench today (American Rhetoric, 2022). As a result, he is filled with such thankfulness that he is willing to accomplish anything God asks of him.
Pathos
Pathos is apparent in Colson’s statement when he outlines his moral standpoint. Pathos is a Greek word that means ‘suffering’ or ‘experience’ (MasterClass, 2021). Pathos, based on Aristotle, is a method of arousing people’s emotions to persuade their views in favor of the speaker (MasterClass, 2021). When using pathos as a persuasion technique, it is critical to balance pathos with ethos and logos. Arguments based only on emotion can result in incorrect arguments, often described as logical fallacies. According to Beqiri (2018), emotions are motivators; thus, utilizing pathos increases the audience’s likelihood of being convinced and acting on the speaker’s demands. Harner (2018) asserts that emotions such as affection, pity, wrath, anxiety, and envy can be evoked throughout the speech to develop a strong connection. One of the finest methods to accomplish this is to share a story to elicit an emotional reaction from the audience. Using pathos to persuade an audience is a clever and effective tactic (Thesaurus, 2022). Both good and negative emotions can influence an audience; for example, listeners will want to support a speaker whose perspective will make them happy, a speaker who wants to end their emotional pain, or opposes something that makes them irritated.
For instance, Colson claims that Bob Packwood, who had a lengthy and successful career in the United States Senate, was expelled for inappropriate behavior toward women (American Rhetoric, 2022). As a result, his moral view is that character is fundamental. Colson wants to demonstrate to viewers that the actions of Clarence Thomas, John Tower, Clarence Thomas, and Bob Packwood might cost them wealth, including the right to serve the public in prominent government posts like Supreme Court justices. Colson wants the audience to understand that a negative reputation may stymie professional advancement; hence, they should accept his moral stance that character counts.
Logos
Charles Colson developed a great argument and offered proof of his speech’s aims to influence the listeners’ judgments (logos). Harner (2018) notes that logos can describe logical reasoning or when an argument is founded on rationale. While the speaker is talking, the listener uses their deductive and inductive reasoning abilities to try to reason the concepts and comprehend the counterarguments (Harner, 2018). As a result, data, facts, figures, and research impact and reinforce the logic of the speaker’s argument. Colson begins his address by establishing the groundwork for ethics in the 1980s and 1990s. For instance, he notes that in the 1980s, individuals were apprehensive about moral and ethical conduct (American Rhetoric, 2022). In the meantime, Colson utilized evidence to prove his assertion. He acknowledges that ninety-seven percent of Americans feel their ethical actions are superior to the President’s (American Rhetoric, 2022). The application of evidence is intended to establish the groundwork for the majority of American citizens to understand and support the moral position.
The foundation ascribed to moral components is the fundamental arguments and evidence offered in Colson’s speech. The speaker also uses these moral elements’ underpinnings to urge the listeners to be better citizens in society. Colson feels that at the conclusion of his speech, he has transformed and convinced the audience that when they leave Geneva, they should embrace God’s message, have dignity, maintain their moral integrity, and express appreciation. For instance, he tells the audience that God asks them to live for him in biblical adherence to the mandates found in the Holy Scriptures and to be people of character who glorify morality (American Rhetoric, 2022). Colson aspires for the students to live a life of morality, purity, and honesty. These characteristics will assist learners in making a difference in society by establishing moral standards.
Logical Fallacies
During his speech, Colson instills a sense of pathos, logos, and ethos in the audience. Nonetheless, his speech contains logical fallacies that make no rational sense in an argumentation. Gurevich (2019) argues that the existence of a logical fallacy does not imply that the entire argument is wrong. Alternatively, it indicates that the reasoning is defective or inadequate at this one point. Instead of employing sound logic, rhetorical fallacies divert the audience’s attention using numerous appeals. For instance, traditional logical fallacies include bandwagon, personal attack, and hasty generalization, among others (Rhetorical argument, 2022). Knowing and identifying logical fallacies assists readers in analyzing arguments, determining whether or not they make sense, and establishing whether or why not they agree with the reasoning.
When Colson asks if it is preferable to look right than to be right, he has established a bandwagon appeal fallacy. He further claims that if people respond to this challenge, they will enjoy a life of dignity and morality, contributing something valuable to society and culture (American Rhetoric, 2022). This remark implies that any response to this question is acceptable. It can also imply that if a person cannot answer Colson’s question, they are not moral, cannot make a positive difference, and cannot live a noble or decent life. Colson’s opinions are influenced by his perspective as a convict.
Colson’s speech contains a personal attack fallacy because he claims that educating a man in intellect rather than morality threatens society. A logical fallacy might include attacking the speaker rather than the argument (ad hominem), implying that there are only two answers to a problem (Rhetorical argument, 2022). According to Colson, education initiatives should be linked to moral instruction (American Rhetoric, 2022). The speaker reinforces his point by praising Geneva institutions for providing moral instruction and development to their students. Although Colson’s objective was for education to develop an individual’s thinking and moral elements, he opposes the bright mind that lacks morals. Colons did not prove his point since he did not provide information that the Geneva institution that prepares individuals with intellectual and moral training has encouraged students to become virtuous.
When he explains why people need character, Colson commits a frequent practice fallacy. Except for the University of South Carolina, he asserts that every college in America prior to the twentieth century was founded by Christians (American Rhetoric, 2022). This remark implies that character was an integral feature of society before the twentieth century. The purpose of arguing that every college in America before the twentieth century was to confirm his assertion that character counts. According to Colson’s common practice assertion, because many colleges in America during the twentieth century concentrated on character, this component benefits society. Nevertheless, this illustration is a frequent practice fallacy because not everything done by the majority constitutes ethical and just (Rhetorical fallacies, n.d.). Colson’s intended message with the standard practice fallacy argument was that excellent character in society should be virtuous.
Furthermore, Colson utilized a hasty generalization error when identifying grounds for students’ unethical behavior. A hasty generalization involves making a broad conclusion from a small sample size (Rhetorical fallacies, n.d.). Colson claims humans have bred a generation devoid of conscience (American Rhetoric, 2022). In his job in the prisons, he hears people declare that there is no understanding of good and wrong among youngsters. Colson also stated that he knows why Jonesboro and Paducah occurred and why, not long ago, a kid walked in and shot his teacher in Pittsburgh (American Rhetoric, 2022). The speaker has not provided convincing proof that most children raised in the United States are immoral. If a group of youngsters has engaged in unethical behavior that has horrified the globe, this does not imply that all children act similarly.
Consequently, Colson determined that the generation reared has no morality using one incident in which a student viciously killed a person. This occurrence is insufficient to justify raising the next generation without conscience. Colson sought to demonstrate to the public that a lack of character in the community leads to a rise in immoral behavior. Nevertheless, without providing proof from a substantial sample size, one should not presume that many future generations are unethical due to their upbringing (Rhetorical fallacies, n.d.). Hence, one event is inconsequential in depicting the entire generation of characters.
Conclusion
Colson’s speech centered on individual character and effective governance. He employs ethos, pathos, and logos to achieve the speech’s goal of helping students shape their character. For instance, the speaker used ethos by demonstrating moral character and goodness, pathos, or emotion to persuade the audience to empathize with a specific viewpoint, and logos to persuade the listeners’ judgments. Charles Colson demonstrates himself as a man of virtue in order to establish ethos. He incorporates religious references to convince the audience that the Watergate scandal has changed his character and that he believes God forgives his earlier wrongdoing. Moreover, Colson has developed an outstanding argument and offered convincing proof of his speech aims as an example of logos. Pathos is present in his statements when he establishes his moral perspective. Nonetheless, Colson’s speech incorporates logical fallacies in his arguments that make no rational sense, such as bandwagon, personal attack, and hasty generalization.
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