heresthetic means the art of political manipulation, especially by the use of language. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 77 out of 100.
Why this word is great
HERESTHETIC — [Noun] The art of political manipulation achieved by strategically structuring the choices, agendas, and decision-making rules presented to others. Coined by political scientist William Riker (1921–1993) from Greek hairein ("to take, choose"), by analogy with 'rhetoric' and 'aesthetic'. Unlike rhetoric, which seeks to persuade within a given set of choices, or demagoguery, which overtly inflames passions, heresthetic is the colder, structural engineering of the arena of conflict itself. It is the deft insertion of a third candidate to split a rival’s coalition, the procedural motion that buries an issue in committee, and the strategic framing of a referendum question to elicit a foregone conclusion. This quiet craft understands that the most profound power lies not in winning the debate, but in designing the room where it takes place.
noun
- The art of political manipulation, especially by the use of language.“Logic is concerned with the truth-value of sentences. Grammar is concerned with the communications-value of sentences. Rhetoric is concerned with the persuasion-value of sentences. And heresthetic is concerned with the strategy-value of sentences. In each case, the art involves the use of language to accomplish some purpose: to arrive at truth, to communicate, to persuade, and to manipulate.”