Classical Rhetorical Argumentation for the Rhetorical Critic

"Much contemporary work in rhetorical argumentation has lost sight of its roots in the Classical tradition, roots that are important for a full understanding of how we can reason rhetorically. Mika Hietanen’s excellent Classical Argumentation for the Rhetorical Critic is a welcome correction to this situation, reviving valuable tools to support the critic’s work."

-- Christopher W. Tindale, Centre for Research in Reasoning, Argumentation and Rhetoric, University of Windsor, Canada

"Mika Hietanen succinctly presents from a contemporary background the theoretical framework of the classical rhetorical approach to argumentation. This is the overview all readers interested in analysing argumentation from a rhetorical perspective are eagerly waiting for: clear, solid, and enlightening."

-- Frans van Eemeren, University of Amsterdam and Leiden University, The Netherlands

"I see great value in Mika Hietanen’s book on classical rhetorical argumentation. There is a need for an in-depth book on how classical rhetoric can contribute to argumentation studies, and Hietanen’s work demonstrates thorough knowledge of both fields and excellent skills in exposition and analysis."

-- Christian Kock, Emeritus Professor of Rhetoric, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

"Mika Hietanen has written a clear, nuanced, and well-documented book on classical rhetorical argumentation, which will be highly useful to scholars across various fields, including advanced students of rhetoric. Presenting the Aristotelian tradition in classical rhetorical argumentation theory is no small task, as it is complex, sometimes inconsistent, and often misrepresented in modern scholarly literature influenced by formal logic. Hietanen also offers useful pedagogical models. Another valuable aspect of this work is its inclusion of Scandinavian and German research on classical rhetorical argumentation."

-- Hanne Roer, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; President of The International Society for the History of Rhetoric (ISHR), Switzerland

"This book is a welcome and valuable resource for teachers and students of rhetorical argumentation. It tackles complex conceptual discussions related to the core ideas of classical rhetorical argumentation theory in an accessible and engaging way, while maintaining a dialogue with contemporary argumentation theory and widely used textbooks. The book makes a compelling case for the importance of sustained engagement with classical theory in contemporary argumentation studies."

-- Tommy Bruhn, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; President of the Nordic Rhetoric Association