Limits of Conversation and The Subsequent Rise of the Sophist: Logos, Ethos and Pathos

Social Media and the subsequent ongoing debates that ensue are equally fascinating and horrifying. On any given day I may choose either option and granted sometimes defer to both to describe current political positioning and rhetoric. Polarization of political views seems at a very contentious and dangerous tipping point. To be honest, I am not quite sure how to reconcile this polarization nor am I certain as to where we can and will go from here. One thing that has becomes abundantly clear in this uncomfortable social and political positioning is the fact that conversation has appeared at a cursory glance, to have reached its limits and has devolved into a level of sophistry.

To think through this issue I am reminded of the concepts of rhetoric: Logos, Ethos and Pathos. Logos is defined as the appeal to Logic; Ethos is the appeal to character or credibility of the speaker; and Pathos is the appeal to emotion. It is suggested that all three should be present in argumentation in order to be successful. I sometimes feel like logos has left the triad and much of current debate relies on ethos and pathos. Conversations quickly derail to name calling, reductive reasoning and attacks on personal character and intelligence. Debates additionally rely heavily on our emotional investment in the topic rather than what our common sense is telling us. Have we lost our concern with truth and merely become concerned with the art of persuasion? Or we unconcerned with manipulative tactics and echo chambers of knowledge? Do facts matter?

I recently listened to a Sam Harris podcast titled, " Waking up with Sam Harris: Triggered (with Scott Adams)and found the conversation somewhat frustrating. I have included a link to that podcast down below for those interested to check it out. Through out this conversation the art of persuasion was viewed as an important, necessary and honourable trait. Perhaps, it's my philosophy background that caused me to scream silently inside, "But what about truth?!?" Maybe that seems naive or utopian in its expression but I can't help recall Plato's and Aristotle's view of the sophist. A sophist in these terms was someone trained in the art of rhetoric who sold their services for money. The goal of many of the sophists was merely to win an argument not so much to come to truth. Needless to say, for those that dedicated their life to truth this must have been a difficult thing to watch and experience. I can attest the modern day equivalence is no less easy to stomach.

With all of this said, I am not sure when (or if) logos will re-enter the conversation but like Elvis I'm afraid it has left building. I can only pray that there are continued sightings (like Elvis) of a rhinestoned -clad logos in convenience stores and local mundane hotspots to reassure me that all is not lost.

(Waking Up Podcast-Triggered)