Compose a 1250 words assignment on philosophy as a body of knowledge. Aristotle contended that persuasion is integral to any public speaking. Increasingly, the rhetorical concepts of Aristotle have been incorporated in almost every public speaking book. In essence, they constitute the fundamental pillars of public speaking. Without incorporating these concepts in speech, it is unlikely that the audience would accept and appreciate that particular speech. In this paper, I argue that Aristotelian concepts of pathos, logos, and ethos contribute significantly to the modern-day concept of speech.

Ethos contributes positively to persuasion by informing the audience about the speaker’s morality as well as knowledge and expertise about the subject. This is requisite for effective speech delivery especially considering that the messages relayed by modern speakers have diverse implications on the audiences. Aristotle indicated that ethos comprises of three main factors that include “practical wisdom, virtue, and goodwill especially towards one’s audience” (Horner 54).

According to him, this was a requirement and attribute that was solely confined to the speaker. Thus, the speaker needed to exhibit characters and mannerisms that were consistent with the moral expectations of society. This was imperative in enhancing the credibility of the speaker. Credibility in this regard is defined by virtues such as respect and trustworthiness. It would equally be important for the audience to believe that the speaker has authority over the speech being relayed. This state of affairs could only be attained if the speaker is conversant with the facts being put across. In the modern-day speech, it cannot be disputed that ethos is at the center stage of delivery. The audience would only listen to a speaker they believe is credible and would meet their expectations.