# rhetoric > art of persuasion, one of the three ancient arts of discourse **Wikidata**: [Q81009](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q81009) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rhetoric ## Summary Rhetoric is the art of persuasion, one of the three ancient arts of discourse, which includes grammar, logic, and rhetoric. It is a field of study focused on techniques and strategies used to influence or convince an audience, encompassing both written and spoken communication. ## Key Facts - One of the three ancient arts of discourse, alongside grammar and logic. - A field of study limited to a specific area of knowledge, specializing in persuasion techniques. - Includes rhetorical devices, which are techniques used by authors or speakers to persuade. - Part of the trivium, the lower division of the seven liberal arts. - Related to communication and method, serving as a planned path to reaching persuasive objectives. - Includes subfields such as homiletics (application of rhetoric to public preaching) and digital rhetoric (forms of communication via digital mediums). - Notable practitioners include Cicero, Marcus Cornelius Fronto, and Apuleius. - Includes figures of speech such as oxymoron, tautology, and litotes. - Used in various forms of argumentation, including polemic and anti-LGBT rhetoric. ## FAQs **What is the relationship between rhetoric and communication?** Rhetoric is a specialized field within communication that focuses on the art of persuasion, using techniques and strategies to influence or convince an audience. **Who are some notable figures in the study of rhetoric?** Notable figures include Cicero, Marcus Cornelius Fronto, Apuleius, and Barbara Cassin, among others. **What are some common rhetorical devices?** Common rhetorical devices include oxymoron, tautology, litotes, and anacoenosis, which are figures of speech used to enhance persuasion. **How does rhetoric differ from logic?** While logic deals with the structure and validity of arguments, rhetoric focuses on the techniques and strategies used to persuade an audience, often through emotional or stylistic appeal. **What is the trivium, and how does rhetoric fit into it?** The trivium is the lower division of the seven liberal arts, consisting of grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Rhetoric is one of these three foundational arts. ## Why It Matters Rhetoric is essential in shaping public opinion, influencing political discourse, and guiding effective communication in various fields. It plays a crucial role in education, where it helps develop critical thinking and persuasive skills. Additionally, rhetoric is vital in digital communication, where it helps navigate the complexities of online persuasion. Its historical significance lies in its foundational role in classical education, shaping the development of Western thought and communication practices. ## Notable For - Being one of the three ancient arts of discourse, alongside grammar and logic. - Including a wide range of rhetorical devices used to persuade audiences. - Serving as a key component of the trivium in classical education. - Encompassing both classical and modern forms of persuasion, including digital rhetoric. - Having a rich historical legacy with notable practitioners like Cicero and Apuleius. ## Body ### Origins and Foundations Rhetoric is one of the three ancient arts of discourse, alongside grammar and logic. It is a field of study limited to a specific area of knowledge, specializing in persuasion techniques. The trivium, the lower division of the seven liberal arts, includes grammar, logic, and rhetoric, with rhetoric being one of the foundational arts. ### Rhetorical Devices and Techniques Rhetoric encompasses a variety of rhetorical devices, including oxymoron, tautology, litotes, and anacoenosis. These figures of speech are used to enhance persuasion and convey meaning effectively. Additionally, rhetoric includes techniques such as the dead cat strategy, which involves introducing a distracting topic to shift attention away from a sensitive issue. ### Historical Practitioners Notable figures in the study of rhetoric include Cicero, Marcus Cornelius Fronto, Apuleius, Barbara Cassin, and Castor of Rhodes. These individuals have made significant contributions to the field, shaping its development and application throughout history. ### Applications and Subfields Rhetoric is applied in various forms of argumentation, including polemic and anti-LGBT rhetoric. It also includes subfields such as homiletics, which focuses on the application of rhetoric to public preaching, and digital rhetoric, which examines forms of communication via digital mediums. ### Relationship to Communication Rhetoric is a specialized field within communication, focusing on the art of persuasion. It is related to communication and method, serving as a planned path to reaching persuasive objectives. The field includes rhetorical criticism, which analyzes the symbolic artifacts of discourse used to communicate. ### Influence and Legacy Rhetoric has a rich historical legacy, with notable practitioners like Cicero and Apuleius. Its historical significance lies in its foundational role in classical education, shaping the development of Western thought and communication practices. Additionally, rhetoric plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion, influencing political discourse, and guiding effective communication in various fields. ## References 1. Nuovo soggettario 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 3. [Registros de autoridad de "Materia" de la Biblioteca Nacional de España. Spain open data portal](https://www.bne.es/media/datosgob/catalogo-autoridades/materia/materia-UTF8.zip) 4. [Source](https://www.euskaltzaindia.eus/index.php?option=com_xslt&view=frontpage&layout=lth_detail&Itemid=474&search=erretorika) 5. BBC Things 6. YSO-Wikidata mapping project 7. BabelNet 8. Quora 9. KBpedia 10. GF WordNet 11. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)