Rhetorical Practices in Medieval Europe and the Islamic World: Historical Context and Ontological Considerations

Abstract

This study explores rhetorical practices during the European Medieval period and in the context of the Islamic world, highlighting the historical dynamics and ontological considerations that shaped them. Adopting a comparative approach, this study outlines how rhetoric was not only an art of persuasion but also a medium that reflected the values, thoughts, and ontologies of each civilization. In Medieval Europe, rhetoric was integrated within the Scholastic intellectual tradition, which combined religion with philosophy, emphasizing rhetoric as a tool for the dissemination of Christian teachings and the mediation of knowledge. In contrast, in the context of the Islamic world, rhetoric developed in a wide scope, from its use in religious texts, law, to literature, demonstrating a greater ontological flexibility in Islamic thought. This study reveals that, despite their differences, both traditions demonstrate a deep interconnection between rhetoric, social identity, and the ontological structure of their societies. Thus, this study provides new insights into the role of rhetoric in shaping and expressing social and ontological realities in these two civilizations.