Ethos, pathos, and logos are techniques of persuasion that form the rhetorical triangle. These three concepts were used by Aristotle in his explanations of rhetoric, or the art of influencing the thought and conduct of an audience. The three modes of persuasion specifically referred to the three major parts of an argument: the speaker (ethos), the argument itself (logos), and the audience (pathos) .
Here is a brief explanation of each:
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Ethos: This refers to persuasion based on the credibility or authority of the speaker. Ethos appeals to the audiences sense of ethics or morals, and aims to convince the audience that the speaker is reliable and ethical.
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Pathos: This refers to persuasion based on emotion. Pathos appeals to the audience's emotions, trying to make them feel the way the author wants them to feel.
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Logos: This refers to persuasion based on logic or reason. Logos appeals to the audience's reason, building up logical arguments.
Collectively, these three appeals are sometimes called the rhetorical triangle. They are central to rhetorical analysis, though a piece of rhetoric might not necessarily use all of them.
