“One could almost call character the most powerful tool for persuasion.” – Aristotle (Answer in 150 words)
Answer: A society is a group of people having common traditions, institutions, and interests. They are guided by a set of norms and practices. Sometimes, society establishes norms and practices that may not be considered right based on modern values, however, people follow these norms under social pRead more
Answer: A society is a group of people having common traditions, institutions, and interests. They are guided by a set of norms and practices. Sometimes, society establishes norms and practices that may not be considered right based on modern values, however, people follow these norms under social pressure. However, all persons ought to endeavor to follow what is right, and not what is established, because:
- It would help in establishing order in society: When everyone knows what is right and follows it without succumbing to social pressure, there would be less scope for conflicts and disharmony. For example, following the value of tolerance would enable people to respect diversity which may lead to peace and harmony in the society.
- It would promote efficiency in administration and governance: When all persons strive to follow the code of conduct and professional ethics then there would be less complexity in governance. For instance, when public servants choose to not engage in corrupt practices, it would lead to better execution of government schemes and policies and good governance.
- It would help avoid a crisis of conscience: Sometimes established norms may create dissonance. For example, following patriarchal values despite believing in the principle of equality.
- It would also encourage others to follow right: People following what is right would act as role models for others and may encourage them to follow the same path of rightness. For example, reporting sexual harassment on the social media platform Twitter- led to the start of the #MeToo campaign.
- It would help in avoiding negative consequences: Following established norms would not always lead to positive outcomes. Sometimes it creates more problems for society. For example, due to rampant female infanticides, the child sex ratio has declined which is a cause for worry.
- It helps in the development of a rational attitude: For instance, there are provisions of amending of the Constitution itself and even the judgments of the Supreme Court are revised as per the changed circumstances.
Therefore, open-mindedness, questioning the established beliefs in light of rationality, and doing the right thing can lead to growth, peace, and harmony.
See less
Answer: Persuasion is a technique of social influence. It believes in the voluntary adoption of the visions and ideas by the receivers. Aristotle highlighted three means of persuasion i.e., Ethos (character), Pathos (emotions), and Logos (logic). The first kind depends on the personal character of tRead more
Answer: Persuasion is a technique of social influence. It believes in the voluntary adoption of the visions and ideas by the receivers. Aristotle highlighted three means of persuasion i.e., Ethos (character), Pathos (emotions), and Logos (logic). The first kind depends on the personal character of the speaker; the second on putting the audience into a certain frame of mind; and the third on the proof, or apparent proof, provided by the words of the speech itself. Character is believed to be the most effective means of persuasion as can be observed through the following examples:
The other ways of persuasion generally influence people for a temporary period of time and have no ripple effects. Conversely, persuasion based on character is considered to be long-lasting and permanent in nature and thus the most effective way of persuasion as it leads to the internalization of the qualities by the people.
See less