What Aristotle and Joshua Bell can teach us about persuasion - Conor Neill

Summary

In 2007, renowned violinist Joshua Bell's performance in a subway went unnoticed, contrasting starkly with his sold-out concert days prior. This paradox highlights Aristotle's principles of persuasion: logos, ethos, and pathos. The prestigious concert hall provided ethos and pathos, enhancing the audience's receptiveness to Bell's music. In the subway, these elements were absent, demonstrating the critical role of context and emotional connection in persuasion.

Takeaways

• 🎻 Joshua Bell, a world-renowned violinist, performed to a packed audience at Boston's Symphony Hall.
• 🎟️ Tickets for his concert at Symphony Hall were highly valued, costing more than $100 each.
• 👤 Three days later, Joshua Bell played in a subway station where only a few people paused to listen.
• 😕 Joshua found it strange that people ignored him while he played in the subway.
• 💭 In the subway, Bell's expectations diminished, and he was grateful for any small acknowledgment.
• 🔍 The difference in audience reaction is explained by Aristotle's principles of persuasion: logos, ethos, and pathos.
• 📜 Logos refers to making the idea make sense from the audience's perspective, which is akin to composing good music.
• 🧑‍⚖️ Ethos involves the speaker's reputation, credibility, and trustworthiness, which were absent in the subway setting.
• ❤️ Pathos is about creating an emotional connection, which was present in the concert hall but lacking in the subway.
• 🔑 The takeaway is that even the best ideas need credibility and an emotional connection to resonate with an audience.

Q & A

Who is Joshua Bell?

Joshua Bell is one of the greatest violinists in the world.

Where did Joshua Bell play to a packed audience?

Joshua Bell played to a packed audience at Boston's stately Symphony Hall.

What was the audience's reaction when Joshua Bell played in the subway?

When Joshua Bell played in the subway, only six people paused for a moment, and one child stopped for a while looking as if he understood something special was happening.

How did Joshua Bell describe his experience playing in the subway?

Joshua Bell described it as a strange feeling that people were actually ignoring him.

What did Joshua Bell find surprisingly grateful in the subway performance?

Joshua Bell found himself oddly grateful when somebody threw in a dollar.

What remained the same in both Joshua Bell's performances at the concert hall and the subway?

The music, the violin, the passion, and the performer (Joshua Bell) remained the same in both performances.

What concept would Aristotle use to explain why people listened to Joshua Bell in the concert hall but not in the subway?

Aristotle would use the concept of rhetoric, specifically the three means of persuasion: logos, ethos, and pathos.

What does 'logos' mean in the context of Aristotle's rhetoric?

'Logos' refers to the idea making sense from the audience's point of view, following rules of logic.

How does 'ethos' influence persuasion according to Aristotle?

'Ethos' relates to the speaker's reputation, credibility, and trustworthiness, as well as the confidence and clarity of their message.

Why is 'pathos' important in persuasion?

'Pathos' is important because it creates an emotional connection between the speaker and the audience.

Why did the concert hall transfer trust to Joshua Bell, but the subway did not?

The concert hall is a trusted institution for musical talent, whereas the subway does not confer the same level of trust for great music or art.

How does the environment of the concert hall differ from the subway in terms of emotional connection?

The concert hall is designed for an emotional bond between the audience and the artist, while the hustle, movement, and stress of the subway platform are not conducive to such a connection.

What lesson did Joshua Bell learn from his subway performance?

Joshua Bell learned that a great idea (or performance) needs credibility (ethos) and emotional connection (pathos) to be effective.

What did Joshua Bell find surprising about his expectations during the subway performance?

Joshua Bell found it surprising that his expectations quickly diminished, and he became grateful for any small recognition, like someone throwing in a dollar.

What is the significance of Aristotle's 'Rhetoric' in understanding Joshua Bell's experience?

Aristotle's 'Rhetoric' helps explain why Joshua Bell's performance in a concert hall was received differently than in a subway, emphasizing the importance of logos, ethos, and pathos in persuasion.