Training Course ‘The Art of Rhetoric’

Service of Religion and Thought, Iran Book News Agency (IBNA): The Cultural Heritage and Dignitaries Association will hold a free course on the Art of Rhetoric from Avicenna’s book “Al-Shifa’s Logic” from November 11, 2025, on Tuesdays, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM.

The course will be taught by Najafgholi Habibi, a prominent figure in Islamic philosophy and mysticism. Habibi is the editor of “The Canon,” several volumes of which have been published by the Avicenna Scientific and Cultural Foundation.

The Art of Rhetoric in Avicenna’s “Al-Shifa’s Logic” is one of the key and lesser-known sections of Ibn Sina’s logic, and plays an important role in understanding his view on language, persuasion, and the relationship between intellect and imagination. In this book, Ibn Sina divides logic into nine arts: 1. Isagoge (Introduction) 2. Categories 3. Interpretation (Expression) 4. Syllogism 5. Demonstration 6. Dialectic 7. Sophistry 8. Rhetoric 9. Poetics.

The Art of Rhetoric is the eighth section of logic and comes after the Art of Sophistry and before the Art of Poetics. Ibn Sina based this section on the Aristotelian tradition (Aristotle’s book Rhetoric), providing a more philosophical interpretation and elaboration. Ibn Sina defines rhetoric as: “Rhetoric is the power by which one reaches the conception or affirmation of things by way of persuasion.” (Al-Shifa, Logic, Art of Rhetoric, p. 280, Egypt print, Al-Amiriyah Press, 1952). That is, rhetoric is a force by which a person can persuade the minds of others to either imagine something or affirm it, not through demonstration but through persuasion.

Ibn Sina says: “Demonstration is for persuading rational and learned people (leads to certainty). Dialectic is for discussion with thinkers (conjectural and inferential). Rhetoric is for the general public (persuasive and imaginative).” He clarifies that the orator should convince the listener by using analogies, tangible examples, and emotions, not necessarily by providing a decisive proof. “Rhetoric is persuasion of the public by what resembles proof but does not reach it.” (Ibid., p. 283).

Ibn Sina, like Aristotle, enumerates three main elements for rhetoric: 1. The Orator (speaker): Must possess moral virtue, good expression, and familiarity with people’s souls. 2. The Audience (listener): Often from the general public, and their persuasion is achieved through imagination, not intellect. 3. The Speech (discourse): The tool for conveying persuasion, with rhetorical and illustrative structures.

He then divides rhetoric into three main types: 1. Deliberative Rhetoric (consultative): For inviting to beneficial actions or prohibiting harmful ones. 2. Judicial Rhetoric (forensic): For defense or accusation in judgment. 3. Epideictic Rhetoric (praise or blame): For praising or blaming individuals and actions (Al-Shifa, Logic, Art of Rhetoric, pp. 288–291).

The Cultural Heritage and Dignitaries Association is located on Vali-e-Asr Street, Amir Bahador Bridge, Major General Ali Akbar Bashiri Street, No. 71.