Ethical Considerations in Public Speaking

  Ethical Considerations in Public Speaking Introduction Public speaking carries with it a responsibility to inform, engage, and persuade an audience in an ethical manner. In the case of Tika, her approach to public speaking raises ethical concerns. This essay will argue that Tika’s approach is unethical due to her inadequate preparation, reliance on shock value, and manipulation of emotions. Additionally, we will explore the appropriateness of her chosen concluding device and discuss the ethical implications of relying heavily on an emotional conclusion. 1. Ethical Implications of Tika’s Approach Tika’s approach to public speaking raises several ethical concerns: Inadequate Preparation: Public speakers have a responsibility to thoroughly research and prepare their speeches to ensure accuracy and credibility. Tika’s lack of adequate research demonstrates a disregard for this responsibility, potentially misleading her audience with inaccurate or incomplete information. Reliance on Shock Value: Tika plans to end her speech with a video showing mass graves, intending to provoke a strong emotional response from her audience. This reliance on shock value manipulates the emotions of the audience rather than engaging them intellectually. It is unethical to intentionally manipulate emotions for personal gain or to divert attention from a poorly prepared speech. Lack of Logical Reasoning: Tika’s speech is described as not very logical, suggesting a lack of critical thinking and coherence in her arguments. Public speakers have an ethical obligation to provide well-reasoned arguments based on sound evidence. Failing to meet this obligation undermines the trust and credibility between the speaker and the audience. Considering these ethical concerns, it is clear that Tika’s approach to public speaking is unethical. 2. Concluding Device Appropriateness Tika plans to use a shock-inducing video as her concluding device. While shock value can be an effective tool in certain contexts, its appropriateness depends on the nature of the speech and the intended impact on the audience. In the case of Tika’s speech on death camps in Africa, using a shocking video as a concluding device is inappropriate for several reasons: Lack of Relevance: The video of mass graves may be emotionally impactful, but its relevance to the speech topic is questionable. Without a clear connection to the content of the speech, it may come across as gratuitous and manipulative. Distracting from Main Points: By relying solely on shock value, Tika risks diverting attention from the main points and arguments she should be making in her speech. Instead of engaging the audience intellectually, she is attempting to evoke a visceral response that may overshadow the substance of her message. More appropriate concluding devices for Tika’s speech could include: Summarizing Key Points: A concise summary of the main arguments and evidence presented throughout the speech would help reinforce the key takeaways for the audience. Call to Action: Encouraging the audience to take specific actions related to the issue being discussed would provide a proactive and impactful conclusion. These alternative concluding devices would align better with Tika’s speech topic and promote ethical engagement with her audience. 3. Ethical Considerations of Emotional Conclusions While it can be ethical to incorporate an emotional conclusion in a speech, heavy reliance on emotional manipulation raises ethical concerns. Authentic Emotional Appeal: Ethical emotional conclusions are based on genuine emotions that arise naturally from the topic being discussed. They should be supported by well-reasoned arguments and evidence. When emotions are manipulated solely for persuasive purposes without a solid foundation, it can be considered unethical. Balanced Approach: Ethical persuasion aims to strike a balance between appealing to emotions and providing logical reasoning. Overreliance on emotional manipulation disregards the intellectual capacity of the audience and can undermine their autonomy in decision-making. In summary, while it can be ethical to include emotional elements in a conclusion, heavy reliance on emotional manipulation, as demonstrated by Tika’s approach, raises ethical concerns due to its potential to mislead, distract, and disregard the intellectual engagement of the audience. Conclusion Ethics play a crucial role in public speaking, requiring speakers to responsibly engage their audience with well-prepared speeches that provide accurate information, logical reasoning, and respect for their autonomy. Tika’s approach to public speaking falls short in meeting these ethical standards due to inadequate preparation, reliance on shock value, and manipulation of emotions. Additionally, her choice of a shock-inducing video as a concluding device is inappropriate for her speech topic. While incorporating emotions in a conclusion can be ethical, heavy reliance on emotional manipulation raises ethical concerns. Public speakers must strive for ethical engagement with their audience by providing well-reasoned arguments, accurate information, and relevant concluding devices that respect their audience’s intellect and autonomy.      

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