That's not what I meant. It is irrelevant to the notion that "reason" was a new idea and was appealed to in discussions. "Rhetoric" is not an argument to which one appeals. It is a tool by which one persuades. Rhetoric was the hammer, but reason was the nail, holding together concepts.
Of course, I am of the personal belief that rhetoric exists to obscure ignorance and idiocy and I work to deconstruct it whenever possible, but I know of its role in 18th century educated circles and, in fact, in many areas today.
One is persuaded by many things besides reason. The tool - Rhetoric - encompasses those things also. It must. How one uses the tool depends on one's motive and character. Again, human nature hasn't changed.