Isocrates Rhetorical Analysis

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Isocrates was parallel to sophists in a sense they both sold their intellectual prowess for a fee. Comparable to the Sophists, Isocrates assumed that arête could be taught. Isocrates did not see the Sophists use of rhetoric completely Unwarranted. Isocrates viewed the processes of deception as the necessary tool in the deliberative development in Greece society’s academies. During Isocrates lifetime he did not always side with the Sophists views of teaching. Unlike sophists, Isocrates was not a public speaker; Isocrates was seen more as an educator. Isocrates states, “ better afterwards and at the end”. Unlike the Sophists, Isocrates wanted to teach his students rhetoric and ethics so that he could produce more ethical leaders for the future of Greece. Isocrates …show more content…

Isocrates did not appreciate the teaching methods or claims of the Sophists. When Isocrates wrote Against the Sophists, He was highly critically of the teaching methods of the Sophists. Isocrates used kairos and prepon in his teachings , both of which the Sophists lacked. The textbook indicates Isocrates views on teaching from “ Discourses designed to rally audiences to traditional values, perspectives, and behaviors”. Unlike the Sophists Isocrates felt he was obligated to teach not only his students but also Greece society. For example " he did so in his letters and treatises, such as panegyricus and Aeropagiticus". Both philosophers and sophist influenced Isocrates. In the textbook Isocrates states “ those who profess to teach political discourse. For the latter have no interest whatever in the truth, but consider that they are masters of an art”. In Against the Sophists Isocrates indicates these sophist preach the power of rhetoric but they fail to mention the art form in which it takes to make rhetoric profound. To become a true philosopher one must aim to achieve education that will develop the wisdom needed. The Sophists were never going to give a student the education needed to receive true

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