Critical Thinking: Rhetorical Devices 2

In this lecture from his Fayetteville State University Critical Thinking class, Dr. Sadler introduces several additional rhetorical devices used to produce persuasion and to skew perceptions positively or negatively. He addresses loaded questions, weasel words, downplayers, and the use of humor, satire, or sarcasm.

[@jacobburr7835]

I've always had some what of a social anxiety. I'm sure it roots to my childhood, my parents were constantly moving. in return i never had to chance to stay in one school for very long. Now recently discovering rhetoric, I feel as though I have control over my thoughts, actions, and words. I think of it as an art. Thank you for your videos!

[@vaibhvtripathi]

I just wanted to thank you for your amazing videos. I really appreciate all the effort you put into your content!

[@GregoryBSadler]

I still can't figure out what you're writing here. A question isn't going to be a euphemism, or interpreted as a euphemism. It could include a euphemism, of course, but that's something different

[@GregoryBSadler]

@prep4md We were using Moore and Parker's Critical Thinking. Not a great text

[@GregoryBSadler]

@Swampymcswamp Thanks! I'm glad you found the class session video helpful.

[@stefstefstef6789]

Living in the UK... I really appreciate these lessons... as a matter of fact they don't teach it near me... I grew up 18 of my years wondering what I was actually good at but felt I was pretty good with judgement and somewhat psychology... and then finally discovering philosophy which is pairs it up really nicely... I can't understand why it's such an undervalued subject than it shows people how they could be being mislead or misguided... but it is essential to me for a good politician.

[@GregoryBSadler]

@Swampymcswamp What's that distinction?

[@GregoryBSadler]

@Swampymcswamp I had thought it might be something along those lines. And, so, yes, I think it does correlate with your distinction.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, again, I have no idea who is presently taking the class, since these videos are from FSU (where I no longer teach) in Spring of 2011. In that class, it was mostly 18-19 year olds, with a few older students. I guess for a European, the most important thing to start from with respect to the "American University system" is that there is no such thing. There is no overarching "system" about which one can easily generalize -- conditions vary radically across schools.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, if you like these -- the vids I did for FSU (which I left after that semester) -- check out the videos I've uploaded in my personal channel. There's two Ethics series from my Marist classes last academic year, and a new, ongoing Existentialism series. Down the line, I'm planning a much more comprehensive Critical Thinking series. Jeff Bridges? Well, perhaps in his incarnation as the Dude, I suppose

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes, Philosophy has many uses -- and is valuable in in itself as well. In the UK, you're somewhat better off than we are here in the States with Philosophy being part of the curriculum

[@stefstefstef6789]

I mean in the sense that I can critise the question (as you have previously said on this that you can't predict the future)... say if I was applying for a job... I begin to critise the question interpreted as a euphemism... and then I follow on saying something such as "but yes I certainly orcastrate the penumbra of the future seeing myself as a manager or co-exectutive in the next 5 years." what is the best way of showing a rather causious approach to the question is what I'd like to know.

[@stefstefstef6789]

I feel it shows negligence to management or any key branch of control.

[@GregoryBSadler]

This stuff is more a matter of attention to history and politics than philosophy as such. I just happen be to be more or less non-aligned politically and to have a strong interest in political history and totalitarian movements. Meetings and contacting others? Perhaps down the line. I give talks and workshops of various sorts, both academic and popular -- but that's one way I earn my livelihood. Organizing stuff like that generally involves someone else on the other end inviting me in

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes, that sort of tardiness was a common problem at FSU

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yep, the flipcam battery would run out sometimes. That's one of the perils of DIY educational technology.

[@itorres008]

The videos for the first lectures on Rhetoric end abruptly as if battery or media ran out. We are left to wonder what we missed. :-(

[@GregoryBSadler]

Hopefully not because its flavorless or bitter

[@GregoryBSadler]

I'm not even sure what "euphemistic approach to answering that question with criticism" means

[@stefstefstef6789]

My apologise, I had it the wrong way round... but honestly I've contacted every American I personally know and they don't understand this material very well. You being a philosophy teacher is pretty much the only person I can have any dependence on in being in track of what I have in mind... over here we're just as dense a majority as same over there... but the people with a better understanding must prevent what is going on. Could you undertake meetings and contact others towards this idea?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Ah -- now I see what you mean. So, would one euphemistically answer that question. . . ? I think that likely, a lot of people do precisely that. Although, I suspect there's also probably a lot of wishful thinking on the part of people about where they will be in 5, 10, 15. . . years. I'd have quite a few students at FSU who were convinced that they were going to go to Law School or become doctors, or the like -- when they had trouble passing my 100-level Critical Thinking class.

[@fatman8014]

What is the name of the textbook you use ?

[@stefstefstef6789]

I'm doing what I can personally from over here... I just won't have a voice until summer, every man tends to have one chance in life to be able to say something very important until his dominance has been pushed down... philosophy is more of an understanding towards than politics... they should be almost the same subject, I've been researching for months... whatever you need to know I probably have the answers stacked somewhere... I just don't have a lot of access to American Media.

[@stefstefstef6789]

If a politician is clearly bad and the majority of the people (civilians/police/military) unconsciously agree, how would you get rid of him if it was needed to be immediate? This is suggesting the majority finally realise... what are the methods of this to be done exactly... and this to be done peacefully.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Moore and Parker's "Critical Thinking", 9th ed

[@GregoryBSadler]

Interestingly, since the Civil War (when we saw some massive realignments of party collations), it has less often been Republicans carrying out the wars, or for that matter really expanding the national-security-surveillance state. Of major American military interventions -- WWI (Wilson) , WWII (FDR), Korea (Truman), Vietnam (Kennedy-Johnson) -- the majority of them have been under Democrat administrations. Iraq 1 and 2, and Afghanistan provide recent exceptions.

[@itorres008]

Ok. Good series, I have some more to see. BTW, I see the videos and I see Jeff Bridges playing you in the movie of your life. :-)

[@stefstefstef6789]

well, I've been busy... would you agree with the following accrual (wealth), rational (law), impartial (justice) and ethical (charity) are the 4 factors that are involved in a working system.

[@stefstefstef6789]

when it comes to a common question asked... "where do you see yourself in 5 years" what is the best euphemistic approach to answering that question with criticism?

[@vincentbernhard9285]

If you're an art student, you can answer that you'll be happily working for a multi billion dollar company, as an expert in financial transactions... ( working at mac donalds)

[@BaobabBabble]

Nice suit. Nicer lecture.

[@pierrecireus7639]

I really appreciate these videos. Is there any way I could get more of these lessons?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yep, I'm no fan of his, his administration, or his party. That said, I'm not a fan of the candidates that the other party put up as alternatives to his either, nor in particular of that party

[@stefstefstef6789]

Well have a think and discuss with people what they think of the current political situation and perhaps bring up the idea... the Institutional States of America has a nice ring to it... and the acronym "ISA" brings a nice advertisement to those who own a PS3 because of the games Killzone (1, 2, and 3) the good guys are the ISA.

[@handfullocheez]

i lost it when the guy walked in at 5:35

[@stefstefstef6789]

basically how do I answer that question as honestly as I can without seeming that I am a fortune teller.

[@stefstefstef6789]

Explaining myself has never been a strong point... well first of all, hypothetically speaking, if you were going to be interviewed for a job... and the question came up "where do you see yourself in 5 years"... how would you answer it?

[@manuelbettencourt4213]

What is the text book you are using?

[@1280nailuj]

Dr. Sadler, WOuld it be too much to ask, if I request the literature you had students read throughout this course?

[@GregoryBSadler]

The textbook was Moore and Parker, Critical Thinking.

[@1280nailuj]

Thank you very much sir. I am in Colombia. I really enjoy your lectures. Would it be too much to ask if i request info . That you may know. About studying abroad. ? Im interested in text linguistics discourae analisis.

[@GregoryBSadler]

I have no information about study abroad. That shouldn't be too difficult for you to track down, though -- start by googling it

[@stefstefstef6789]

That makes you perfect for the job in my eyes and you are more qualified than most for persuading... the only way these state of affairs happened is when people begin talking about it... let's look at the facts we know... 24 states voted for Romney, the states control food supply, these states hold most gun owners and are very fond of them compared to the others, TheAlexJonesChannel, Adam Kokesh (today arrested but for now :/ ), The church, town hall meetings + have good contact with others.....

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, you're talking about a coup d'etat. Very, very tough to pull off in the US, I'd think.

[@MrAngryman69]

me too.

[@matibraun2025]

Which is the book they're using?

[@reasoniocritthinking]

Moore and Parker, Critical Thinking -- a so-so textbook

[@matibraun2025]

Critical Thinking, Logic, and Argumentation Thanx! Great teaching, by the way.

[@reasoniocritthinking]

You're welcome -- and thanks!

[@plainpizza7935]

And I can tell you don't buy the drinks, either. It's a bad way to distinguish yourself.

[@ChooseAname495]

9:17 they DO want your teeth to rot. It's what keeps them in business.

[@plainpizza7935]

This professor has zero issues getting women. He dresses like the head villain in a Tarantino movie.

[@reasoniocritthinking]

I have zero problem getting the one woman I'm interested in, fortunately -- any more women than her would simply be excessive and imprudent!

[@plainpizza7935]

Sometimes just one is excessive and imprudent. (You look and sound like a more eloquent version of Walter from The Big Lebowski.)

[@Emcfree2084]

"No one in the US controls the media" bahahahahahahaha (not horse laugh)

[@letsgococo288]

Yeah this man won’t bite the hand that’s feeding him.

[@letsgococo288]

Have you Americans no humour? You should always reply to a loaded question with a better loaded question. It get funnier each time. There’s also nothing wrong with stereotyping, it’s either true for some or it’s not…. Nothing is either “good” or “bad”. As an Australian we get stereotypes as shoeless hillbillies living in tents riding kangaroos and BBQs. Some deny Australian are not even real. It’s ALL funny to us, we don’t care.

[@apotheosis00]

It's like Jeff Bridges as The Dude teaching critical thinking...