The Political Rhetorician

The political rhetorician is primarily concerned with passing a law or otherwise convincing a legislative body (whether it be senate, monarch, or any other arrangement) of some particular course of action, like signing a treaty or going to war. The chief concern of any political body is usefulness, that is, whether or not a given course of action will further the goals of the nation. Therefore, the political rhetorician must focus on this, and questions of justice should come later. The political rhetorician needs to be familiar with political science, history, and the constitution of his own state. History is especially useful in political rhetoric because it is by way of examples of the past that one can guess what will happen in the future, and the future is the chief concern of the political process. He should also know about the different forms of government...