A Series of Questions

In the beginning when reading Story- List- Sanction: A Cross-Cultural Strategy of Ancient Persuasion by James E. Watts, I was struggling to understand why this was relevant for rhetoric’s and myself.  James E. Watts defines rhetoric (in this paper) as: “including any and all forms of persuasion” (Watts, 197), and he is looking at the rhetoric of ancient Near East and eastern Mediterranean. The questions I was pondering was: Why the story, list and sanction rhetoric’s relevant? Are the kings aware that they are using rhetorical strategies, even though the definition does not exist? Through our readings it has become apparent that rhetoric has been important long before the Greeks, but at the same time, the Greeks reflected and asked philosophical questions, which have lead to the understanding we use today.

            Is not the story – list – sanction rhetoric too basic? When talking to a child you have to explain why (by telling a story), give examples (list) and then tell them about the consequences (sanction), which is what I feel like they did. Aristotle´s opinion of the story is that “narration introductory and superfluous, necessary only for “weak” audiences incapable of grasping the logic of enthymemic proof” (Watts, 207). Plato sees their rhetoric as a way of scaring and manipulating the audience (Watts, 208). This is a good description of what we have learned from James E. Watts. Because they used it to explain the past, present and future, and their goal was that they would obey and listen to the texts.

On a different note, I found this really interesting, because it shows that it is relevant and how the rhetoric of the different cultures and times where intertwined (like it is today). Their recognition of it makes it important and the fact is that it is still relevant today: both law and politics. This post might only be me clearing my mind, but I am starting to understand the importance of what we read and why we read it. When looking the rhetoric practiced by the Royalty it shows their strategies of manipulation, and also how it has been an important part in many cultures.