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Polite Passionate Persuasion: Hume's Conception of Rhetoric

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 September 2010

Marc Hanvelt
Marc Hanvelt*
Affiliation:
Carleton University
*
Marc Hanvelt, Department of Political Science, Room B640 Loeb Building, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, marc_hanvelt@carleton.ca
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Abstract

Abstract. While confronting questions about the negative political effects of faction and fanaticism, David Hume developed a distinction between the manipulative rhetoric of the fanatics and the factional leaders and a good form of rhetoric that I term accurate, just, and polite. This high form of rhetoric combines Hume's philosophy of just reasoning with the rhetorical style of an idealized Demosthenes and eighteenth-century standards of politeness. Understanding Hume's conception of rhetoric is important for understanding the full scope of his political philosophy. In addition, further study of his conception of rhetoric could provide a valuable avenue of research for contemporary liberal theorists seeking to develop normative models of judgment and deliberation.

Résumé. En réfléchissant aux effets négatifs du factionnalisme et du fanatatisme, David Hume a établi une distinction entre la rhétorique manipulatrice des leaders factionnaires et fanatiques, et une rhétorique que je qualifie ici de correcte, juste et polie. Cette dernière s'inspire de la philosophie du juste raisonnement de Hume, mais aussi d'un style de rhétorique associé à Demosthenes, érigé ici en idéal, ainsi que des standards de politesse du dix-huitième siècle. Cette conception de la rhétorique joue un rôle important dans la philosophie politique de Hume et pourrait constituer une avenue de recherche intéressante pour les penseurs libéraux contemporains qui cherchent à développer des modèles normatifs de jugement et de délibération.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , September 2010 , pp. 565 - 581
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association 2010

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