ARCS Ch 7

There are a few parts of Chapter 7 in ARCS that I found interesting. This chapter, titled, "Pathetic Proof" gave a new definition to pathos - pathetic. I hadn't ever thought that pathos could be associated with pathetic, but now I have learned that pathetic appeal can be one that just conjures up emotion in the audience - not only loathsome or sad.
Pathos gains strength in this chapter, and Aristotle is one ancient rhetor whose opinions on emotional appeals are taught. What I found interesting was the part where prejudices against emotion are used unfairly, for instance, "if you're emotional, you're irrational (171)" and how reasons associated with steady, tranquil behavior - stifling emotions. I feel that emotional appeals are portrayed a lot this way in the everyday arguments I see, and take part in, daily. I hadn't thought before that emotional appeals could also be used powerfully for advertising - "Just do it! (171)" appealing to peoples desire to succeed. Additionally,arguments with people you are closer with, that happen at home or with the people closest to you - will make the biggest emotional impact when using pathos. This can be largely seen through the example given explaining how proximity affects the intensity of emotions that they feel - for instance how climate change may not bring a large audience to immediate feeling fear because of the fact that its effects can't be seen or felt monumentally daily (177). Later in the text Aristotle's teachings speak to how emotions are great places to target in your audience - as often emotional changes develop into differences in people's judgements individually (175)".