Elements of Rhetoric

Richard Whately's Elements of Rhetoric (1828) is a foundational work in the field. It defines rhetoric as a practical discipline focused on exerting persuasive action on an audience through speech, rather than solely as an art of expression. Whately's work is considered a continuation of classical rhetoric, particularly Aristotle's approach, as it aims to engage all types of listeners and incorporates dialectics, the art of discussion and debate.1

Unlike purely literary or stylistic rhetoric, which may focus on figures of speech for aesthetic value, Whately's rhetoric emphasizes these techniques as means of persuasion and for creating "presence"—bringing to mind things not immediately present. His treatise became a standard textbook for generations, contributing significantly to the understanding of argumentation and its role in guiding decisions and choices.12