Persuasive Basanos: Torture in Aristotle and the Attic Orators.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Horton, Christine
- Source
- Rhetor. Journal of the Canadian Society for the Study of Rhetoric; 2013, Vol. 5, p1-9, 9p
- Subject
- TORTURE
COURTS
PHILOSOPHERS
- Language
- ISSN
- 17122333
The article examines the views of Greek philosopher Aristotle on torture (basanos) as an atechnic evidence in his "Rhetoric" treatise and details the role of torture in keeping status distinctions in Athenian society. It explains the challenge to basanos by Greek orator Demosthenes in his "Against Onetor" speech and probes its role within the context of the Athenian law courts.