The Passage Below Is A Fictional Political Scenario
1stassignmentread The Passage Below It Is Afictitiouspolitical Speec
Read the passage below. It is a fictitious political speech in a recent campaign. Then answer the following questions: Identifying Rhetoric, Logical Fallacies, and Psychological Fallacies
1. What are the rhetorical devices employed in this speech? Be specific. Name the rhetorical device used and sentence where it is found.
2. Identify one logical fallacy found in the speech. Provide the sentence and explain why it is a logical fallacy.
3. Identify one psychological fallacy found in the speech. Provide the sentence and explain why it is a psychological fallacy.
Paper For Above instruction
The given speech employs various rhetorical devices aimed at appealing to the audience's emotions and creating a compelling narrative to support the speaker's stance. Notably, the speech uses pathos, or emotional appeal, as seen in phrases like “the Slackers are lazy! Nothing is ever enough for them,” which tries to evoke feelings of resentment and disdain towards the so-called ‘Slackers’ (Aristotle, 2007). The speaker also employs hyperbole, such as “nothing is ever enough,” exaggerating the laziness of the targeted group to solidify the distinction between the hardworking citizens and the ‘Slackers’ (Perloff, 2010). Anaphora, the repetition of phrasing for emphasis, is evident in the line, “The cell phone wasn’t enough. Before you know it, the Slackers will demand a new iPhone 5,” stressing the idea that the recipients of government support are insatiable (Billig, 2014).
One logical fallacy present in the speech is the false dilemma or false dichotomy, exemplified in the sentence: “How can half of the country, who pay no federal income taxes, expect the other half to support them through their tax dollars?” This fallacy presents the situation as an either/or circumstance, ignoring the complexities of tax policy and social support systems, thus oversimplifying the issue (Norton, 2019). It implies that either everyone supports themselves or they are freeloaders, ignoring the nuanced reality where social services may be necessary and justified.
A psychological fallacy evident in the speech is the appeal to fear, also known as scare tactics. For instance, the line “A Slacker getting free support is like allowing your adult children to move back home and then not requiring them to get a job,” appeals to parental fears of losing control and stability, prompting the audience to support harsh policies against ‘Slackers’ (Tversky & Kahneman, 1974). This manipulation leverages anxiety to persuade voters to endorse policies that stigmatize social support programs.
The speech's rhetorical strategies are designed to polarize support, framing the issue as a moral binary while stoking fears about economic collapse and moral decay. By attributing negative traits to a large portion of the population and emphasizing the hardworking minority’s contributions, the speaker seeks to galvanize an emotional response that favors restrictive social policies. Recognizing these tactics allows voters and analysts to critically evaluate the rhetoric beyond the superficial message, understanding the underlying manipulative techniques.
References
- Aristotle. (2007). Rhetoric. Penguin Classics.
- Billig, M. (2014). Laughter and Ridicule: Towards a Social Critique of Humour. Sage.
- Norton, D. (2019). Logical Fallacies and Critical Thinking. Routledge.
- Perloff, R. M. (2010). The Dynamics of Persuasion: Communication and Attitudes in the 21st Century. Routledge.
- Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Science, 185(4157), 1124-1131.