Aristotle's Use of endoxa in Rhetoric : The Language of "Everybody"

Rosie Wyles

doi:10.1353/rht.2025.a965119

Rhetorica Jan 2025

Aristotle's Use of endoxa in Rhetoric : The Language of "Everybody"

Rosie Wyles

Abstract

Abstract: Aristotle's use of endoxa (generally accepted opinions) in his account of emotions, Rhetoric 2.1–11, 1378a-1388b, is analysed from the perspective of authorial style and the audience. When Aristotle says (1.1.12, 1355a), that speeches for the "multitude" ( polloi ) should rely on generally accepted opinions, he reveals the significance of endoxa in illuminating the perspectives of the non-elite. The use of endoxa imports the language of "everybody," which has implications for how the work operates and its relationship to a democratic audience. The integration of familiar phrasing and vocabulary enhances its cogency for a heterogeneous audience. The explicit framing of shared views, signposted by collective language, sits alongside implicit engagement with both views and vocabulary that would be familiar to the audience from tragedy. Endoxa shed light on Aristotle's status as a writer, the cultural situatedness of his ideas, and the appeal of Rhetoric to a wider public.

Journal: Rhetorica
Published: 2025-01-01
DOI: 10.1353/rht.2025.a965119
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Open Access: Closed
Topics: classical rhetoric rhetorical criticism
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Aristotle's Use of endoxa in Rhetoric : The Language of "Everybody"

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