The Federalist Papers 10 and 51: Rhetoric

    The Federalist Papers 10 and 51: Rhetoric

      Logos

      Using logic to persuade people? We bet you never saw that coming.

      Madison's arguments lean almost entirely on a coherent, logical argument to analyze the issues it brings up. He's trying to bring you around to his reasoning on the issue.

      For example, note his use of if-then statements in this quote: 

      But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. (51.3)

      By walking through his arguments, Madison's appealing to your rational brain. Fits of passion, he might say, are part of the ills at the heart of the faction problem to begin with. When given a choice between rhyme and reason, Madison takes rhyme.