Table of Contents
Newton’s use of sophistry
Using passive voice
- For instance in Definition 5 Newton uses passive voice intentionally to hide the fact that what he calls “force” is an occult quality.
How passive voice is used to deceive
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Understanding Passive Voice in English
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action, rather than the doer. It is formed with the verb to be + past participle of the main verb.
Structure:
Active voice: Subject + Verb + Object
Passive voice: Object of active sentence becomes subject + Form of “to be” + Past Participle [+ (optional) “by” + Agent]
Examples:
- Active: The chef cooked the meal.
- Passive: The meal was cooked (by the chef).
Rhetorical and Sophistic Uses of Passive Voice
The passive voice is often used to:
- Shift Focus: Highlight the action or recipient rather than the doer.
- Example: “The law was passed” (emphasizes the result rather than who passed it).
- Example: “The law was passed” (emphasizes the result rather than who passed it).
- Obscure Responsibility: Avoid mentioning the agent of the action, intentionally or otherwise.
- Example: “Mistakes were made.” (By whom? This is deliberately vague).
- Example: “Mistakes were made.” (By whom? This is deliberately vague).
- Impersonal or Formal Tone: Create a tone of objectivity or detachment.
- Example: “Your application has been denied.” (avoids directly naming who denied it).
- Example: “Your application has been denied.” (avoids directly naming who denied it).
- Sophistry and Deception: In political, legal, or corporate contexts, the passive voice can serve to obscure the truth, downplay accountability, or mislead:
- Example of Evasion: “Weapons were fired on the protestors.” (Who fired them? This omission can obscure blame).
- Example of Spin: “Benefits have been delivered to thousands.” (Implying success without identifying the source or verifying the claim).
- Example of Evasion: “Weapons were fired on the protestors.” (Who fired them? This omission can obscure blame).
Recognizing Passive Voice in Manipulative Contexts
- Omission of the Agent: When the agent of an action is hidden or unclear, readers should question why the writer chose this construction.
- Focus on Outcome: When the emphasis is on the result rather than the cause, it may be a deliberate attempt to deflect attention.
- Contextual Incongruity: If the use of passive voice doesn’t match the usual style of the speaker or context, it may signal an attempt to conceal or redirect focus.
How to Counteract Such Usage
- Ask Questions: Who is responsible? Why are they not mentioned?
- Rewrite Actively: Convert passive statements to active ones to clarify meaning and responsibility.
- Passive: “The funds were misallocated.”
- Active: “The finance team misallocated the funds.”
- Passive: “The funds were misallocated.”
Understanding how passive voice can be wielded as a tool of persuasion or deception can enhance critical reading and analysis skills. By recognizing these patterns, one can dig deeper into the intent and content of the message.