Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Should We Cancel Aristotle? The Ultimate Debate”

Using the rhetorical persuasion strategies they learned in Thank You for Arguing, students will engage in the ultimate debate: Should Aristotle, regarded by many as among the most influential philosophers in the history of Western civilization (and a central figure in the book), be cancelled for his personal history/political beliefs?

In a July 21, 2020 opinion piece for the New York Times, philosopher and University of Chicago professor Agnes Callard questions Aristotle’s influence on societies in his time and through the centuries.  As she describes in the article, Aristotle was pro-slavery and held many other controversial beliefs. However, considering his monumental contributions to philosophy, science, and ethics, the question of whether to topple him from his elevated position in the history of Western thought requires a larger discussion. 

In this activity, you will use the rhetorical techniques discussed in Thank You for Arguing to make your case for/against cancelling Aristotle.

• The class will be divided into small groups (2-3 students each), and your group will be assigned either for or against cancelling Aristotle.