Apophasis (a-pof’-a-sis): The rejection of several reasons why a thing should or should not be done and affirming a single one, considered most valid.
Should I wear a mask?
1. No–It makes my face sore!
2. No–It curtails my breathing. Did you hear? 100s of people are suffocating.
3. No–they are too expensive—five dollars for a twenty-pack.
4. No–I am an immature bozo and don’t like people bossing me around.
5. They are against my freedom of speech.
On the other hand, they save lives and slow the disease’s spread. I guess I’ll get one of the cool-looking black ones like movie stars wear!
Definition courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)
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