Logos, along with ethos and pathos, is a key pillar of effective persuasion. When you master logos – or logical reasoning – you can craft compelling arguments that move audiences to act.
The best part? Logos doesn’t require you to be a genius debater.
With a few simple techniques, you can learn how to use logos appeals to influence decisions and opinions.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What logos is (and why it matters)
- Classic examples of logos that you can use
- How to implement logos in your own writing
- Practical tips to strengthen your logos appeals
What Is Logos?
Logos is a rhetorical appeal to logic and reason. It involves using facts, evidence, statistics, and logical arguments to persuade an audience.
It’s one of the three modes of persuasion outlined by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. The other two are ethos (appeal to credibility) and pathos (appeal to emotion).
Basically: Logos is all about getting people to agree with your argument by using reason.
In this post, you’ll learn how to use logos to strengthen your arguments. And see examples of logos in action.
Logos vs Ethos vs Pathos
Logos, ethos and pathos work together to create compelling arguments. You've known what logos means, and the following are the detailed definitions of the other two:
- Ethos: An appeal to credibility or character. When you use ethos, you’re trying to convince your audience that you’re a trustworthy and reliable source of information.
- Pathos: An appeal to emotion. When you use pathos, you’re trying to evoke an emotional response from your audience.
It’s important to note that logos, ethos, and pathos are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the most effective arguments often use a combination of all three appeals.
For example, a speaker who is trying to convince an audience to adopt a vegan diet might use logos to present scientific evidence about the health benefits of veganism, ethos to highlight their own expertise as a nutritionist, and pathos to appeal to the audience’s compassion for animals.
Why Logos Matters
Logos is one of the most effective ways to persuade people.
Why?
Because it taps into our natural desire to be rational and logical.
When you present a strong logos appeal, you’re giving your audience a good reason to agree with you.
For example, let’s say you’re trying to convince your friend to try a new restaurant. A logos appeal might sound like this:
“The restaurant has a five-star rating on Yelp, and it’s been featured in several food magazines.”
Your friend is likely to be more convinced by this logos appeal than by an emotional appeal, such as:
“The restaurant is so amazing! You’ll love it!”
5 Examples of Logos
Here are some examples of logos in action:
1. “All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.” – Aristotle
This is a classic example of syllogism, a type of logical argument that uses two premises and a conclusion.
The first premise states that all men are mortal. The second premise states that Socrates is a man. The conclusion is that Socrates is mortal.
This is a logical argument because the conclusion follows logically from the premises.
Aristotle’s syllogism is often used as an example of logos because it shows how logical arguments can be used to persuade people.
2. “According to a study by the National Sleep Foundation, people who get seven to eight hours of sleep per night are 35% less likely to die prematurely.” – Health magazine
This is an example of logos because it uses a statistic to support a claim.
The statistic is from a reputable source, so it’s likely to be persuasive to the audience.
This logos appeal is effective because it taps into people’s fear of dying prematurely. It also gives people a specific action to take: get seven to eight hours of sleep per night.
3. “The stock market has lost 20% of its value in the past year. This is a clear sign that the economy is in trouble.” – Economist
This is an example of logos because it uses a fact to support a claim.
The fact is that the stock market has lost 20% of its value in the past year.
This fact is likely to be persuasive to the audience because it’s a concrete example of the problem the speaker is talking about.
4. “The average cost of a college education is now over $30,000 per year. This is a major barrier to entry for many students.” – Politician
This is an example of logos because it uses a statistic to support a claim.
The statistic is that the average cost of a college education is now over $30,000 per year.
This statistic is likely to be persuasive to the audience because it highlights the problem that the speaker is talking about.
5. “According to the Environmental Protection Agency, climate change is causing more extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and floods.” – Environmental activist
This is an example of logos because it uses a fact to support a claim.
The fact is that climate change is causing more extreme weather events.
This fact is likely to be persuasive to the audience because it’s a concrete example of the problem the speaker is talking about.
How to Use Logos
Here are some tips for using logos in your writing and speaking:
- Use facts and evidence to support your claims. When you use facts and evidence, you show your audience that your argument is based on reality.
- Be logical and reasonable. Your argument should follow a logical progression, and your conclusions should be based on your evidence.
- Avoid logical fallacies. Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that can weaken your argument. Some common logical fallacies include ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and false dichotomies.
- Use clear and concise language. Your argument should be easy to understand and follow.
- Tailor your logos appeal to your audience. What is considered to be a strong logos appeal in one context may not be considered to be a strong logos appeal in another context. For example, a logos appeal that uses scientific evidence may be more persuasive to a scientific audience than to a general audience.
Conclusion
Logos is a powerful rhetorical device that can be used to persuade your audience. By using facts, evidence, and logical arguments, you can create a strong logos appeal that is difficult to refute.
However, it’s important to remember that logos is just one of many rhetorical devices that you can use to persuade your audience.
The most effective arguments often use a combination of logos, ethos, and pathos.