The rhetorical dangers in the present: a philosophical analysis of discourse manipulation

Abstract

Amplified by social media and its algorithms, the fake news phenomenon has become one of the greatest challenges of contemporary society. However, discursive manipulation is not a recent problem, but rather an issue that has accompanied the history of philosophy since antiquity. This article analyzes the manipulation of discourse in contemporary times by drawing a parallel between classical rhetoric and the phenomenon of disinformation in the digital age. It investigates how Plato’s and Aristotle’s critiques of persuasion without commitment to truth find resonance in the functioning of social media algorithms, which isolate users in “filter bubbles”, favoring polarized discourses and distorted perceptions of reality. It is proposed that reflection on rhetoric, in dialogue with contemporary technologies, offers a path toward developing critical skills essential for the construction of informed and responsible knowledge. Through a bibliographic review and analysis of data on digital behavior in Brazil, the study demonstrates that the spread of disinformation is driven by both technological mechanisms and psychological inclinations, such as the “congenital vanity” described by Schopenhauer. The article concludes that understanding fallacies and sophisms remains vital today for confronting the challenges of digital communication and its social implications.