Argues that rhetoric belongs to a class of theories that tend not to become outmoded, and presents examples of effective rhetoric from ancient Greece. Suggests that rhetorical theories should be judged on their own terms rather than on the standards of an allied discipline. (KEH)

Characterizes the extent to which--and the ways in which--Hugh Blair's "Sermons" are pathetic or emotional, in light of criticisms that maintain his work is passionless. Examines the closely related matter of Blair's moral philosophy, in which the passions play an important role as subject matter. (TB)

Attempts to resolve an apparent contradiction between Hugh Blair's admiration for the Classical emphasis on rhetorical pathos and emotion and the apparent absence of that emphasis in the style of his own sermons. Characterizes the ways in which Blair's sermons are actually pathetic and explores the moral philosophy of those sermons. (TB)