PHI 1101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Dysphemism, Loaded Question, Euphemism

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHI 1101
• Professor: Sascha Maicher

Document Summary

Rhetorical force: words and expressions have more than a literal/dictionary meaning, emotive meaning/rhetorical force: power to express and elicit various psychological and emotional responses, ex. Elderly gentleman and old codger evoke different emotions. Two expressions have same literal meaning but the 2nd has a negative emotive meaning. It may be psychologically compelling, but by itself it establishes nothing, has no probative weight. If we allow our attitudes and beliefs to be formed solely by the rhetorical force of words, we fall short as critical thinkers: we must distinguish between the argument contained in a passage from the rhetoric. First group are usually single words/short phrases designed to give a statement a positive or negative slant. Euphemisms & dysphemisms: euphemism: neutral/positive expression used in place of one that carries negative associations, ex. Sounds worse to be obscenely rich than to be very wealthy, eating animal flesh sounds worse than eating meat.