Analysis Of Barlow s Declaration Of The Independence Of...

What rhetorical strategies do you see at work in Barlow’s Declaration of The Independence of Cyberspace, and why does Barlow employ them? In what ways does the piece constitute as a manifesto? In Barlow’s Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace, Barlow uses pathos or an emotional argument in order to persuade the readers to think that the government does not have any control over cyberspace. Barlow also uses logos, or a logical argument by appealing to the reader’s logic by helping them to understand that if the government was not invited to govern cyberspace, they are not welcome. Barlow is making the argument that the government does not have jurisdiction over the in and outs of cyberspace. But with this, he makes a key assumption that is the backbone of his argument. This assumption is that cyberspace does not fall under the government’s reign because they were not invited and given the consent to join nor were they involved with the initial creation. If the reader agrees with this assumption, then they will agree with Barlow’s argument, and if they do not then they would appose his argument. He also uses phrases like â€Å"we† a nd â€Å"you†, we meaning anyone who uses the internet and you meaning the government. By making the reader feel as if they are a part of the argument he appeals to their emotions. Barlow uses these rhetorical strategies in order to make his audience feel empowered. There are always issues that each generation fights for, and our generation’s issue