Abstract
The chapter endeavors to present what is known in the legal literature as a rhetorical approach to law. The contribution may be understood as a preface to a broader research agenda, which proposes a conceptual framework to analyze legal argumentation in an international context. The point of departure is that law may be considered as a rhetorical practice. The chapter will justify the theoretical premise that analytical categories from the Aristotelian rhetoric can be useful in understanding the discourse in international courts. To achieve this the paper has been divided into three main parts. In the first section, Aristotle’s rhetorical categories logos, pathos and ethos are defined in accordance with a rhetorical empirical method elaborated by the legal philosophers from the School of Mainz. In the second section, the core of this rhetorical empirical method is outlined following K. von Schlieffen’s work on the analysis of judicial decisions. Finally, as a simple illustration of the rhetorical approach, two decisions on human dignity from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are examined, taking these two examples as a topos, which in turn, reinforces the case for problem-oriented reasoning in the practice of international law.
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Notes
- 1.
Aristotle (1984a). Edition used: Jonathan Barnes. The Complete Works of Aristotle.
- 2.
Some Greek terms will be used as theoretical terms and will not be translated. The translation common place instead of commonplace is used for theoretical reasons.
- 3.
Bornscheuer (1976).
- 4.
Braet (1992).
- 5.
- 6.
In this volume a different view about the purpose of rhetoric in Aristotelian work is supported by Cohen de Lara. She argues that content, either moral or political, are not a subject matter that belongs to rhetoric. In her view, learning rhetoric means merely to gather persuasion skills. Something else cannot be required from this art of delivering effective discourses. Cohen de Lara (2018). However, as already said, in accordance with the rhetorical approach to law of the School of Mainz, we are in favor of a rhetoric in which meanings are really important in shaping the most plausible decision. In other words, not only convincing matters, but particularly the plausibility of contents built during the whole argumentation process.
- 7.
Bayer (1975).
- 8.
Aristotle (1984b). Edition used: Jonathan Barnes. The Complete Works of Aristotle.
- 9.
van Zantwijk (2011).
- 10.
Sobota (1994).
- 11.
von Schlieffen (2005), p. 422.
- 12.
von Schlieffen (2008), pp. 1820–1821.
- 13.
- 14.
von Schlieffen (2008).
- 15.
Schirren (2009).
- 16.
Sobota (1994), p. 158.
- 17.
Ibid., p. 159.
- 18.
Sobota (1992).
- 19.
In this volume Rapp (2018).
- 20.
Sobota (1994), p. 158.
- 21.
Sprute (1991).
- 22.
Sobota (1994), p. 158.
- 23.
Sobota (1991), pp. 275–278.
- 24.
von Schlieffen (2008), p. 1811.
- 25.
Hartmann (2014).
- 26.
Viehweg (1974).
- 27.
- 28.
- 29.
- 30.
Sobota (1996).
- 31.
von Schlieffen (2005).
- 32.
Bornscheuer (1976).
- 33.
Ibid., p. 20.
- 34.
Ibid., p. 91.
- 35.
Marhaun (2001).
- 36.
Bornscheuer (1976), p. 96.
- 37.
Peters (2014).
- 38.
Bornscheuer (1976), p. 99.
- 39.
Ibid., p. 102.
- 40.
Ibid.
- 41.
Ibid., p. 103.
- 42.
Bedi (2007), pp. 49–51.
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Pinho, F. (2018). On Logos, Pathos and Ethos in Judicial Argumentation. In: Huppes-Cluysenaer, L., Coelho, N. (eds) Aristotle on Emotions in Law and Politics. Law and Philosophy Library, vol 121. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66703-4_7
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