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In:Thinking Politically: Cognitive linguistic insights into political discourse
Edited by Anastasios Vogiatzis
[Figurative Thought and Language 22] 2027
► pp. 220–241

Chapter 10
Emotion over reason

ad hominem arguments in Thucydides’ history: A socio-cognitive approach

 | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This chapter is meant as a cognitive, socio-pragmatic contribution to the study of political aggressive discourse in Thucydidean history (460–399 B.C.), as compared to modern political discourse. Emotion over reason emerges as a universal topos in political discourse and ad hominem arguments abound. Since, however, social values and the sense of political correctness vary greatly across time and cultures, lexically negative predication may not necessarily entail a negative pragmatic function. Negative adjectives function as insults in our societies, but in Thucydides’ historical narration they could also serve as warnings. Such warnings, issued by the speaker, led, by metonymical implication, to the emotional activation of the audience, and ultimately to its persuasion. Metonymy hence emerges as a powerful rhetorical mechanism.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Dissoi logoi
    • 2.1Thucydides’ veracity and authenticity
  • 3.Emotion over reason
    • 3.1Hate for foreigners
  • 4.Argumentum ad hominem
    • a.Direct (abusive)
    • b.Circumstantial
    • c.Bias
  • 5.Negative predication
  • 6.Logical reasoning
  • 7.Speech acts, illocution and conceptual metonymy
  • 8.Historical context and social meaning
  • 9.Conclusion
  • Author queries
  • Note
  • References
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