Educationally and pedagogically written and reviewed by Academic Writer Maryna Polishchuk, MA, and Academic Writer & Researcher Dr. Maryam Iftikhar, Ph.D.
Logos, Ethos, Pathos: Definition & Meaning
Ethos, pathos, and logos are “modes of persuasion” widely used by authors and speakers to persuade their audience. They are frequently used in persuasive essays and speeches, but their usage can be traced to literature, politics, advertisem*nts, and even everyday speeches.
Logos
Logos is the implementation of reasoning and logic in the composition of a persuasive piece of writing or speech.
Ethos
Ethos appeals to credibility. The speaker or author often demonstrates his authority and trustworthiness to persuade the audience with ethos. This rhetorical device aims to increase trust between the author and the audience.
Pathos
Pathos is the appeal to emotion, empathy, common beliefs, and values. This literary device convinces readers by intentionally provoking certain feelings that impact their views.
Benefits & Drawbacks
These rhetorical devices are essential to persuade somebody in your arguments. Nevertheless, they have its pros and cons.
Using logos in your writing or speech can help you convince people by providing logical support that always sounds convincing. On the other hand, just listing facts can sound impersonal, and it may look like you took information from an encyclopedia or scientific journal. The audience may get bored with such scientific data and, as a result, lose interest in your speech.
On the one hand, ethos provides credibility, persuading readers that the author has expertise in the subject and that they can rely on their opinion. Controversially, it can have an adverse effect, as some readers may consider that the author tries to boast about their status and authority. This can distract the audience from what the speaker is saying and fail to persuade the reader of anything.
The benefit of using pathos is that it builds an emotional relationship between the author and the audience and creates the impression that the author and readers have something in common, which brings them closer. However, it also has a disadvantage. Since no facts support the author’s position, some may think that the argument lacks logical support.
Examples of Logos, Ethos, Pathos
Logos Examples:
- A scientist presenting on climate change may illustrate the effects of increasing global temperatures on the environment using data from reliable research, attractive graphics, and statistical analysis.
- A friend attempting to encourage you to eat healthily could offer scientific research demonstrating the advantages of a balanced diet and explaining how specific nutrients affect lifespan and general health.
- An advertisem*nt could highlight a new smartphone’s technical benefits, such as a quicker CPU, a longer battery life, and a high-resolution camera, technical details and model comparisons with competitors.
Ethos Examples:
- A fitness equipment company may hire a well-known athlete to promote its products.
- A toothpaste manufacturer may make statements emphasizing how many dentists recommend their product.
- When speaking to a potential client, a financial adviser may display their credentials, affiliations in professional associations, and certificates.
Pathos Examples:
- A charity’s commercial may feature pictures of hungry children and stress their poor living circ*mstances to evoke empathy and compassion and ultimately increase donations.
- Politicians may play on voters’ emotions like patriotism, unity, and enthusiasm to encourage them to vote for their party.
- You can meet a cancer survivor who tells a heartbreaking story about his health conditions at a fundraising event to evoke compassion to raise donations for cancer research.
Teach Simple’s Perspective
Whether you write a persuasive essay or work on a speech, or create an advertisem*nt for a product knowing how modes of persuasion works is essential. Ethos, logos, and pathos can significantly impact reader/listener perception about what you say or write. It is not obligatory to use all these modes of persuasion in your text; you may choose one or two. Remember that each of them has its drawbacks that can also negatively impact the listener’s reaction about your content and you as an author. So, be careful when using them, and always consider how they can impact your audience.
If you want to persuade your audience using ethos, consider your expertise, title, position, and authority. You should demonstrate your expertise in terminology in your field. If you already have a good reputation in your field, you may also rely on it.
If you choose pathos, be ready to support your arguments with emotion-evoking examples and stories. You can also apply expressive, emotive language in your speech to establish an emotional connection with your audience. Another way to use pathos is to address your audience’s issues of concern. This will show your empathy and compassion. Pathos is a good instrument that helps to increase the likelihood that your audience will be engaged in what you say.
If you prefer to support your arguments with facts, statistics, or sound reasoning and analysis, then it is better to choose logos. This rhetorical appeal can demonstrate your proficiency in the field. People become more convinced when the author’s speech is supported by reliable sources and facts.
In general, ethos, pathos, and logos are essential instruments that can help you reach your goals in any field. People often use these modes of persuasion in literature, advertisem*nts, TV, and everyday speech. Understanding and knowing how they work will help you better understand human psychology and even avoid being manipulated.
References
Lutzke J., & Henggeler, M. F. (2009). The rhetorical triangle: Understanding and using logos, ethos, and pathos. School of Liberal Arts. https://www.lsu.edu/hss/english/files/university_writing_files/item35402.pdf
Ting, S. (2018). Ethos, logos and pathos in university students’ informal requests. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies 18(1), 234–251. DOI:10.17576/gema-2018-1801-14
Ting, S. H., Ungau, M., & Jerome, C. (2020). Use of logos, pathos, ethos for persuasion in cancer pamphlets. The Internet Journal Language, Culture and Society, 49, 13–25.
