Steve Jobs' commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005 is a timeless example of how to effectively use ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade and inspire an audience.
Ethos refers to the credibility and authority of the speaker, and Jobs has a strong ethos as the co-founder and CEO of Apple, a company that has revolutionized the tech industry and impacted the lives of billions of people around the world. He starts his speech by acknowledging the accomplishments of the graduating class and the hard work and sacrifices they have made to get to this point. This establishes his credibility and authority as a speaker and sets the stage for the rest of his message.
Jobs then uses pathos, or emotional appeals, to connect with his audience on a deeper level. He tells the story of his own life and how he faced challenges and setbacks, including being fired from Apple, the company he co-founded. He talks about the importance of perseverance and resilience, and how these qualities allowed him to bounce back and ultimately achieve great success. By sharing his own personal story, Jobs is able to evoke emotions in his audience and inspire them to pursue their dreams and never give up.
Finally, Jobs uses logos, or logical appeals, to support his arguments and persuade his audience. He talks about the importance of following your passion and not being afraid to take risks, and he backs up these arguments with examples from his own life and the lives of others. For example, he cites the story of Edwin Land, the founder of Polaroid, who dropped out of college to pursue his passion for photography and went on to create a highly successful company. This use of logos helps to reinforce the credibility of Jobs' message and makes it more convincing to his audience.
Overall, Steve Jobs' commencement speech at Stanford University is a masterclass in the use of ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade and inspire an audience. His strong ethos as a successful entrepreneur, emotional appeals through personal storytelling, and logical arguments supported by examples make for a powerful and memorable speech that has resonated with audiences for decades.