Guiding Questions

• How does language influence our understanding of truth and justice?

• What’s the difference between persuasion and manipulation?

• Can language be weaponized — and still serve justice?

Language Is Never Neutral

Words don’t just describe reality — they shape it.

Every courtroom argument, political debate, news headline, or social media post uses rhetoric — the art of persuasion.

• A protest becomes a riot

• A whistleblower becomes a traitor

• An undocumented worker becomes an illegal alien

• A surveillance policy becomes national security

Justice depends not just on what is said, but how it is said — and who gets to speak.

The Power of Rhetoric

Rhetoric is powerful because it shapes belief before we even realize it.

• Framing decides what’s included or excluded from a story

• Tone suggests morality or blame

• Repetition makes falsehood feel familiar

• Labels can elevate or erase entire groups

Those in power often control the dominant narrative.

Those without power must fight to have their truth heard.

Philosophical Perspectives

Plato

Warned that rhetoric can deceive the masses — unless guided by truth and reason.

Aristotle

Believed rhetoric was a necessary part of public life, but it must be tied to ethos (credibility), logos (logic), and pathos(emotion).

George Orwell

In Politics and the English Language, argued that unclear and manipulative language makes injustice easier to commit.

Jacques Derrida

Challenged the idea that words have fixed meanings. Language is always shifting — and so is truth.

A Thought Experiment

Imagine two trials:

In one, the defendant is described as “a loving father who made a mistake.”

In the other, he’s called “a violent repeat offender.”

The evidence is identical. The verdicts are not.

Ask yourself:

• Did justice change — or did the language change?

Two Perspectives

Language as a Tool for Truth

Precise, honest language helps clarify justice and protect rights.

Language as a Tool of Power

Language can obscure injustice, manipulate facts, and silence dissent.

Tools for Just Communication

• Rhetorical literacy – learn to detect framing, bias, and euphemism

• Free speech protections – uphold the right to challenge dominant narratives

• Inclusive language – represent all communities with dignity

• Clear definitions – don’t let power hide behind vague terms

• Transparency in media – hold institutions accountable for misleading speech

• Listening with skepticism – question both authority and popularity

Reflect and Discuss

• When does persuasion cross the line into manipulation?

• Who decides what counts as “truth” in a polarized society?

• Is language a mirror of society — or a tool to remake it?

Suggested Readings

• George Orwell – Politics and the English Language

• Plato – Gorgias

• Kenneth Burke – A Rhetoric of Motives

• James Baldwin – The Devil Finds Work

• Judith Butler – Excitable Speech: A Politics of the Performative

“Every injustice begins with a carefully chosen word.”

— Tiger Lyon