Albert Einstein Speech

Albert Einstein the Menace of Mass Destruction Speech On November 11th 1947 the renowned scientist, Albert Einstein, presented his case against nuclear warfare and the real dangers that come with it. He was able to grab his audience’s attention by great use of literary devices and rhetoric techniques. The argument delivered in this speech proved to be effective because till this day a nuclear bomb has yet to be dropped. Albert Einstein was one of the scientists assigned to the Manhattan projected during the 2nd world war. The project was a success as the United States effectively dropped the only two nuclear bombs ever in history.

The decision was made because the Japanese refused to surrender with defeat looking them in the eyes. In order to end the war quickly and save many American soldiers’ lives the bombs were dropped on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing devastating damage to each. After seeing the results of his creation, Einstein made it his mission to deliver a speech to the General Assembly and Security Council of the United Nations in hope for a peaceful future for all of mankind. Albert Einstein uses the rhetoric device logos to make his argument much more effective to his audience.

For example “ General fear and anxiety creates hatred and aggressiveness. ” Using diction he is able to better describe an often seen human reaction. The words “ anxiety” and “aggressiveness” are used effectively and really allows the audience to see and make the connection of the logic used in the argument presented. Also the use of foreshadowing can be seen as he uses this quote to setup for the important, bigger picture later in the speech. Einstein’s use of logos through diction provides an excellent use of rhetoric. Later in the speech Einstein has another outstanding use logos with the help of syntax.

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He states “ The adaptation to warlike aims and activities has corrupted the mentality of man; as a result, intelligence, objective and humane thinking has hardly any effect and is even suspected and persecuted as unpatriotic. ” Einstein does a perfect job of ordering the sentence for cause and effect. In doing this he presents a problem with humanity and he then directly delivers the negative results that follow. In using the cause and effect approach he amplifies the logic used in the sentences. Overall this grabs the audience’s attention and allows them to better understand the argument and connect to it.

Einstein wraps up his speech effectively using the rhetoric device ethos. He does this to help prove his over all argument and to support his logical statements. He begins saying “ We scientist believe that what we and our fellow men do or fail to do within the next few years will determine the fate of our civilization. ” The audience will take note and appeal to his authority because he is one of the most intelligent men that have ever lived. Also by using foreshadowing when he says, “within the next few years will determine the fate of our civilization” he is able to make the audience entice to his argument with the help of ethos.

As one can see with the help of the rhetoric devices used along side with the literary terms Albert Einstein was able to deliver a powerful speech about mankind’s nature and how it must change in order for life, as we know it to survive. Throughout the speech he continues to use logos and pathos to help persuade his audience to agree with his argument. One can see the effectiveness of this speech because there has yet to be another nuclear bomb dropped since that day in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

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