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Slaying the Tyrant: How the Topos of the Tyrant Was Used to Defend Democracy
Manage episode 277003212 series 2820769
The topos of the tyrant was a rhetorical weapon to defend democracy. The current "authoritarian moment" calls for a renaissance of this rhetorical exercise. A speaker can use "the topos of a tyrant" by recounting and elaborating on "the six vices of a tyrant": suspicion, cruelty, savagery, arrogance, immorality, and avarice. As Cicero stated, "when it comes to preserving the people's freedom, no one is just a private citizen." It is the duty of every citizen to guard against tyranny and from becoming tyrants ourselves.
30 episodes
Manage episode 277003212 series 2820769
The topos of the tyrant was a rhetorical weapon to defend democracy. The current "authoritarian moment" calls for a renaissance of this rhetorical exercise. A speaker can use "the topos of a tyrant" by recounting and elaborating on "the six vices of a tyrant": suspicion, cruelty, savagery, arrogance, immorality, and avarice. As Cicero stated, "when it comes to preserving the people's freedom, no one is just a private citizen." It is the duty of every citizen to guard against tyranny and from becoming tyrants ourselves.
30 episodes
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