Greek Beliefs Regarding Public Communication

Question:

The Greeks believed that to be an orator, an individual had to be morally good.  Comment on whether you agree or disagree.  What, if any, is the connection between goodness, truth, and public communication?
           

Answer:

I would like to agree with the Greeks that an orator needs to be morally good, however I feel that was more of an ideal rather than a requirement. I can see where this would be of utmost importance, especially in Greek society where most public speaking was conducted in the realm of politics or in search of legal justice. Ideally an orator would make his or her arguments based in truth, backed by ones belief and conviction in their statements. However, even in the classical period any requirement of morality was discredited by the sophists, who boasted about their ability to defeat strong arguments with weaker ones. They showed that speaking style could take precedence over facts or even logical arguments. A situation that is showcased in modern society especially in the case of law where lawyers are encouraged to use persuasion and distraction to alter the outcome of trials regardless of their personal beliefs in regards to the case they are arguing.

In most cases it becomes more about how the recipients identify with the speaker on a personal level, even if it is only superficially, then the logical or factual basis of the statements themselves. And although I would prefer that orators be of good moral standing, I find it hard to define or qualify an individual based on their morals. This is due to the fact that someone’s moral standing seems more subjective to the recipient than it is a factual set of requirements in which the individual can be compared.  

Introduction

Hello! For the purposes of this blog and class my name is Paige Turner. (I thought it sounded like a fitting pseudonym for writing.) I started my current journey at Sierra College in 2010 and I am working towards an associate degree in accounting. I am working full time which unfortunately means that my schooling is part time because I can only handle three classes’ maximum per semester. It makes completing my degree slow going but I hoping I will appreciate it all that much more when I am finally done. Outside of work and school I spend any spare time I can find with my husband, family, and friends. I also have two beautiful Siberian Huskies and three kitties that are my children and keep me busy.

This is the first communications class I have ever taken. I even steered clear of speech and debate in high school. I am your typical shy, wallflower type in gatherings and am usually referred to as the quiet one. I have been told however that when I do speak up, for example during business meetings at work, that I have a demeanor that seems to command attention. I find this fact to be both amusing and a little ironic whenever I hear it since the last thing I ever want to do is bring attention to myself. I live with an intense fear of public speaking and have been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, so the thought that I "command" attention in anything I do is rather amusing to me.

It is my hope that this class will help me become more confident expressing myself, as well as teach me how to be more effective and efficient in my communications.