Landmark Essays: on Aristotelian Rhetoric

There is little doubt that Aristotle’s Rhetoric has made a major impact on rhetoric and composition studies. This impact has not only been chronicled throughout the history of rhetoric, but has more recently been contested as contemporary rhetoricians re-examine Aristotelian rhetoric and its potential for facilitating contemporary oral and written expression. The eight essays presented here are divided into three rubrics: history and philosophical orientation, theoretical perspectives and historical impact. This collection provides teachers and students with major works on Aristotelian rhetoric and offers readers an opportunity to become active participants in deliberations about the merits of Aristotelian rhetoric for contemporary teaching and research.