heresthetic

heresthetic

English

Etymology

Coined by William Riker, as the companion to rhetoric.

Noun

heresthetic (uncountable)

1. The art of political manipulation, especially by the use of language.
   • 1986, William H. Riker, The Art of Political Manipulation

     Logic is concerned with the truth-value of sentences. Grammar is concerned with the communications-value of sentences. Rhetoric is concerned with the persuasion-value of sentences. And heresthetic is concerned with the strategy-value of sentences. In each case, the art involves the use of language to accomplish some purpose: to arrive at truth, to communicate, to persuade, and to manipulate.