Essay - Analyze Argument in Demon-haunted World Lighting the Candle: Argument Analysis...

Analyze Argument in Demon-Haunted World

***** the Candle: Argument Analysis

What tools are available to sort through a world rife in delusion, half-truths, and undeniable mystery? Should one trust scholarship, faith, or even one's own eyes to discover that which lies beneath veiled agendas perpetrated upon a gullible public? Is there a method by ***** one might become reasonably educated? Carl Sagan, a Pulitzer Prize winner and auth***** of numerous works, argues in favor of the scientific approach to knowledge. *****, in his book, The ***** World, successfully establishes his claim that science and its accompanying ***** to reasoning is the only way that mankind can hope for long-term survival. He uses h***** ***** to build his case. What elements of argument does Sagan use to convince his audience?

***** begins The Demon-Haunted World (hereafter referred ***** as Demon) in an encounter with the average Joe - a c*****b driver. He immediately creates his own ethical appeal to ***** audience though his patient attitude *****wards ***** driver's obviously *****adequate gr*****p of true scientific knowledge. ***** driver is a victim, S*****gan points out. "Our cultural motifs, our educational system, ***** communications media had failed t***** man" (4). The reader is now aware of *****he *****or's character, and his words may carry increased value. This will lend validity to future argument ***** pro*****s put forth ***** the author. The remainder of the introduction reinforces ***** precarious state ignorance ***** characterizes "95 percent of Americans" (6). Sagan *****s his logos using familiar images juxtaposed to believable facts. What ***** can deny feeling the queasy humor of actor Peter Sellers as Doctor Strangelove? Who would fail to recognize ***** perpetuation of "the mad scientist" in popular media and culture? ***** ***** counters t***** image with ***** fact that "science is rated among the most admired ***** trusted occupations" (11).

By ***** the topoi of opposites, Sagan effectively grounds his claim without alienating those at whom he is pointing his finger. Once his ***** is established, and ***** reader intrigued, the ***** heaps evidence ***** evidence to support his cause.

***** is *****'s next approach. He tells the ***** why science has *****. He is doing th***** to establish more credibility with his *****. After all, he has just finished telling his audience that they are ignorant, that almost everyone is ***** of the process of *****. Again, one sees the development of the ***** appeal in the rhetorical context, a phr*****se used by J. Petraglia-Bahri of the School ***** Literature, Communication & Culture. The reader does not feel ignorant, but after review*****g chapter two of Demon, he underst*****s the value of critic*****m and debate in argument and scientific *****y. Sagan engenders a sense of trust in his audience very early in his writing. ***** pathos he creates is ***** of friendship toward the audience, which he seamlessly slides into enmity for t***** perpe*****rators of pseudoscience. Once his stage is set, the author begins his work in winning ***** audience toward his perception ***** reality.