On Orotund Rhetoric

Use of language that is unduly forceful in delivery or style may effectively inflame the passions of an audience or inspire those who already agree with the speaker. However, beyond this limited use, the hyperbolic delivery of our ideas has several serious drawbacks.

The foremost problem is such rhetoric virtually shuts down reasoned debate before it begins. If our opponents are racists, for instance, then we don't have to give any decent consideration to the arguments they put forward in defense of their position. The same is true if they are bent on destroying our country or intentionally purveying and promoting evil. Certainly there is no reason in listening to or seriously considering ideas put forward by the most base and vile persons humanity has to offer.

Further, derogatory portrayals of our opponents can prevent us from employing the most effective arguments in favor of our position. If our opponents are stupid, muddleheaded morons, then there is no reason attempting to convince them of the rectitude of our stance on an issue, as they clearly lack the ability to understand our brilliant insights.

Of course, even if we want to convince our opponents, we may no longer be able to do so. There is a basic human tendency to become defensive in the face of accusations and insults, and a defensive mind-set is not open to considering other points of view. As an example, if I claim my opponent is a fool, then, for him to later agree with my position, he also has to agree he is a fool. Thus, by peppering my discourse with insults, I inadvertently add unnecessary hurdles to the acceptance of my ideas.

Finally, bombastic and insulting language can be an impediment to our own understanding. Assume, for a moment, we are wrong and our opponent happens to be correct. For us to understand his wisdom, we must also agree the dumbest, dunderheaded dolt in the room knows something which has somehow escaped our own keen wit. The situation is even worse if our opponent is evil, wicked, and bent on the destruction of all that is good and right in the world.

Overly forceful and verbally abusive presentations of ideas is a stumbling block to understanding, as it closes debate before it can begin. Such phrasing prevents our opponents from an easy acceptance of our ideas, while preventing us from giving their thoughts a fair hearing, and even degrades our ability to put forth the best possible arguments in favor of our positions. In sum, orotund rhetoric is an obstacle to the expansion of Reason.