Roberto Santoro
Software Developer, Talent Management Director
Workshop: The Origins of Western Rhetoric: Ancient Greeks and Romans
In terms of public speaking, where do we come from?
As Toastmasters, we engage with rhetoric on a regular basis. And yet, we don’t often discuss the fascinating origins of this ancient discipline. Several great rhetors from the past paved the way for us, providing theoretical frameworks to rhetoric that are still extremely useful and relevant today.
This seminar will explore how Western rhetoric was born in Ancient Greece, and how it was later assimilated and developed by the ancient Romans. Get ready for an unexpected journey! Did you know that rhetoric played a central role in a huge “philosophical war” between the Sophists and Plato? We often refer to the Aristotelian triad of ethos-pathos-logos, but what did Aristotle actually think about rhetoric? How did Cicero memorize the long, complex speeches that he masterfully delivered in the Roman Senate? Can we adopt his method?
As public speakers, we stand on the shoulders of giants, and we can learn a lot from these great thinkers. In this seminar, we will examine how their teachings and frameworks can be applied to analyze modern famous speeches, and what each one of us can take away and apply to improve our future speeches.
Roberto’s Bio
With a background in computer science and a passion for talent development, Roberto Santoro divides his professional life between algorithms and soft skills: he is a software developer and machine learning engineer, as well as the person in charge of talent management and growth initiatives, from hiring and onboarding to employee training and development.
He has a deep love for communication in all its forms: he is a writer, a proud Toastmaster, and a TEDx speaker coach. He currently serves as the Area Director of Area A3, which includes six clubs across Albania and Italy.
His lifelong passion for philosophy, which began in high school, combined with his fascination for language, communicative structures, and public speaking, led him to explore the wonders of ancient rhetoric – knowledge he is excited to share with the conference attendees!