Nathan Wilson spoke on “Story and Rhetoric”. Rhetoric is the final stage of classical education, in which the student learns to present their knowledge and wisdom persuasively and beautifully. The talk focused on the idea of “proof”. Nathan presented “proof” not as mathematical certainty but as “that which obligates belief”. You may prove your point even if folks don’t agree. The listener is moved to a response by your presentation even if that may not be wholesale agreement – they may feel guilty and stone you to death to silence you. That they take an action shows they are moved by your argument.
The nature of persuasion – use beauty and style to complement your reasoning. It’s OK to appeal to the credibility of authorities that hold the position (“ethos” type of proof) or to the listener’s emotions (“pathos”). Logos (logic), Ethos, and Pathos are the three types of proof Cicero and the ancients held to.
Remember that “mathematical certainty” applies only to mathematics. All other areas of reasoning involve some measure of faith, even faith that our senses are not deceiving us, etc. Descartes insisted on mathematical certainty and ended up rejecting much of reality. The biblical definitions of knowledge exceed mathematical proof. One example is Solomon’s musings in Ecclesiastes. Another is Jesus’ answering His critics in ways that appear to dodge the question. His answer actually cuts directly to the root of the matter, but our insistence on “proof as pure logic” prevents us from hearing His truth.
Logic is not the “cornerstone” of persuasion. It’s more like a wall – necessary but not the only essential quality. Rhetoric is about everything. You are in God’s story, look around and learn to read it.