Ethos of Rhetoric

If we understand the word "ethos" in its earlier meaning of "dwelling place," Hyde (communication ethics, Wake Forest U.) says, discussion of the ethos of rhetoric draws attention to the "architectural function" of argument, actively constructing the boundaries and domains of thought. The contributors of the 11 papers he presents largely share this view as they consider case studies of the ethos of rhetoric in: Aristotle's treatment of credibility, Sidney Lumet's film 12 Angry Men, the 2000 US presidential campaign, and George W. Bush's response to the September 11th attacks. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR