Epicrisis

Epicrisis (e-pi-cri’-sis): When a speaker quotes a certain passage and makes comment upon it.

Related figures: anamenesis–calling to memory past matters. More specifically, citing a past author from memory–and chreia (from the Greek chreiodes, “useful”) . . . “a brief reminiscence referring to some person in a pithy form for the purpose of edification.” It takes the form of an anecdote that reports either a saying, an edifying action, or both.

I hate to do this, but the current political climate invites it, no, demands it.

“It is not truth that matters, but victory.” This quotation from Hitler seems to be expressive of a basic ultra-conservative Republican tenet. Lying, blatant lying, is a key strategy.

“Stop the steal” is a case in point. Clearly, by every credible measure, the Presidential election was not stolen. True believers have a desire, the desire is supported by the lie, hence it must be acted on as if it were true. Wresting the election away from Biden is more important than than the truth. Apart from being grounded in a lie, the statement itself sounds noble. If it were true, “stopping the steal” would be a good thing. True believers can’t be faulted for acting on a command uttered by the President of the US—a President whom they worship (for unknown reasons). Acting without considering the baselessness of the slogan gives true believers grounds for righteous indignation, anger and violence. After all, a stolen election is a big deal and President Trump said it was stolen from him.

Lying for victory’s sake is depraved, for it puts falsehood above truth, will lead to disaster, and will ultimately corrupt one’s character, and lead to defeat, as it did for the fascist cited above.

Definitions courtesy of “Silva Rhetoricae” (rhetoric.byu.edu)

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