Collaborative Essay: Isocrates
What we need?
-articles
-information about his contributions?
Hey guys I found this web page and I think it has some useful information for us! ![[WWW]](http://wikispot.org/wiki/eggheadbeta/img/sycamore-www.png){kind=small}
http://www.keithmurphy.info/399/Isoc.htm
I have a few ideas I wondered what you guys thought about them. I know Isocrates had contributions in rhetorical style, diction, and providing rhetorical education when he was a teacher. Do you guys know what his other contributions to rhetoric are? if any?
-Looks like his rhetorical style and diction were the main parts of his teachings, but I think we can include the fact that he was an actual teacher of rhetoric as a contribution.
I like that idea. How should the outline of our paper go so that it is conducive to the rhetorical situation?
Brown, Jessica, Jordyn Hicks, Karen Perkins
Professor Medved
15 February 2012
English Composition 1101
Isocrates
Thesis: “Through perseverance and dedication Isocrates achieved eloquent structure within his works leading to a legacy of teaching and political influence which forever strengthened the art of rhetoric.”
“Although his teachings were not appreciated during his time period, we look back today and see that his contributions to rhetoric are what helped shape the rhetorical theory today.”
I. Introduction
A. Small biography
B. Key facts
II. Structure
A. Syntax
B. Diction
III. Teaching
A. Lectures
B. Letters?
IV. Influence in Politics
A. Speeches/Letters
B. Hindsight
V. Conclusion
Hey guys this is Karen. Since everyone has to pick their paragraph I want to take III. about Teaching. Please make sure you post your paragraph tonight, so I can print them! See you all tomorrow!
I'm working on the Influence in politics body paragraph - I'm reading some of the speeches from the website I found
Okay, here is just a rough draft of the general idea of the political contributions:
Political Contribution
Isocrates believed that through the studies of philosophy, one could assess the proper ways in which to address an audience through emotional appeals concerning one’s own stature in society as well as the status of inner state relations. He believed morals were directly related to politics and the efficiency of an educated citizenry. Relating these rhetoric disciplines to the uses in society, Isocrates speaks about the necessity of the approval of man, ergo, an appeal to ethos must proceed an appeal to pathos, to justify the moral appeals (and therefore political appeals) regarding the nature of the rhetoric. Being a teacher of rhetoric he considered education to be the priority, and education prompted an active political life which in turn positively affected a systematic political ideology. However there is no argument in such a way to defend yourself as simply more deft in knowledge than another, as Isocrates assesses in his writings “Helen,” “But it seems to me to be the most ridiculous thing of all to attempt to convince people by such words that they possess knowledge of political affairs, while in the course of these very professions they might display it (Isocrates, Helen, J.A. Freese translation).” As in today's political parties, argumentative discourse is only contributive if the rhetors are addressing the opposite view's factual relevance. In hindsight, the political teachings of Isocrates were based off of his teachings of the "noble" subjects, or vir bonus dicendi peritus, which still echo in the political strategies widely used today.
sa
i chose the introduction.
This is jordyn
Isocrates, a respected philosopher and teacher who started his life in 436 BCE, little did he known that his birth created a new birth which is now known as rhetoric. Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, so how did Isocrates contribute to rhetoric? His method of teaching students to speak well on noble subjects, remained the ideal of the ancient world. His whole life he taught, for the love of teaching and the reward of teaching someone his views. Isocrates style of teachings
here's my extended part on the political contributions; if you guys could try and piece together all this stuff soon thatd be great cause I want to start working on the prezi for the paper :)
Isocrates believed that through the studies of philosophy, one could assess the proper ways in which to address an audience through emotional appeals concerning one’s own stature in society as well as the status of inner state relations. He believed morals were directly related to politics and the efficiency of an educated citizenry. Relating these rhetoric disciplines to the uses in society, Isocrates speaks about the necessity of the approval of man, or an appeal to ethos must proceed an appeal to pathos, to justify the moral appeals (and therefore political appeals) regarding the nature of the rhetoric. Being a teacher of rhetoric he considered education to be the priority, and education prompted an active political life which in turn positively affected a systematic political ideology. However there is no argument in such a way to defend yourself as simply more deft in knowledge than another, as Isocrates assesses in his writings “Helen,” “But it seems to me to be the most ridiculous thing of all to attempt to convince people by such words that they possess knowledge of political affairs, while in the course of these very professions they might display it (Isocrates, Helen, J.A. Freese translation).” As in today's political parties, argumentative discourse is only contributive if the rhetors are addressing the opposite view's factual relevance. In hindsight, the political teachings of Isocrates were based off of his teachings of the "noble" subjects, or vir bonus dicendi peritus, which still echo in the political strategies widely used today.
As a citizen of fourth-century Athens there was a surprisingly little amount of recognition during Isocrates’ lifetime concerning his work on rhetoric. It wasn’t until the period of the Enlightenment that scholars rediscovered the works of Isocrates and studied them: “Scholars in Antiquity and in the Renaissance regarded Isocrates (436-388 BC) as the preeminent rhetorician of ancient Athens and accordingly made him a central figure in their picture of fourth-century Athens. For the majority of modern scholars, however, he is a figure of inadequacy. He is an exception in a moment of otherwise remarkably self-aware literacy, political and intellectual achievement that we have come to know as ‘Classical Athens.’ (Yun Lee Too).” This “self-aware literacy” reflects the style of rhetoric that Isocrates was known for. He placed much focus on the ability to prove a point from multiple angles, pulling circumstances from his own active political life which in some ways made him appear to some rhetoricians as “more style than logic (Too),” and in other opinions this style is said to have given him an authentic path to wisdom. However, political science in Isocrates’ eyes should be based on proofs, and arguments with an assessment of the opposing view. “Logos” can be thought of by rhetoricians as having its own language, where a citizen of a society can use its use of logic as proof of useful membership. This usage of the rhetoric Isocrates found to be the most democratic form, where individuals could reflect their allegiance to their society through rhetoric training and understanding. “If Schmitt-Pantel is right to see Democratic ethos as being constituted precisely by the willingness of the individual to see himself and to be seen as a member of the group, then democracy is a society that supports and encourages rhetorical discourse. (Too)”
Thank you for sending your updated version! I am compiling all the work on a document, but I need everyone to send me their information from the works cited page.
Alright, here is the paper, guys. This is Karen. I put all of our paragraphs together. Please read it and edit it because we all want to do well!
Jessica Brown, Jordyn Hicks, and Karen Perkins
Professor Medved
English Composition 1101
23 February 2012
Immortal Isocrates
Isocrates, a respected philosopher and teacher who started his life in 436 BCE, little did he know that his birth created a new birth which is known as rhetoric. Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, so how did Isocrates contribute to rhetoric? His method of teaching students to speak well on noble subjects remained the ideal of the ancient world. His whole life he taught, for the love of teaching and the reward of teaching someone his views. "There is no institution devised by man which the power of speech has not helped to establish” (Keith online). The education Isocrates imparted to his pupils was one that Isocrates believed would not only serve the students in their time in school, but later in life when these students would become politicians. Possibly his students would be rhetors similar to that of Isocrates. The education the students gleaned would shape their characters, which Isocrates ultimately believed would mold their futures. Through perseverance and dedication, Isocrates achieved eloquent structure within his works leading to a legacy of teaching and political influence, which forever strengthened the art of rhetoric.
Isocrates earned his place among the great ancient rhetors due to his mastery of style and vocabulary, which were exemplified in practice. Common discoveries in the writings of Isocrates are smooth style of composition, dissonance or clashing of consonants is rare, and the attention to rhythm. Critics of Isocrates note smooth style of composition. “It is clear that to aim consciously at producing such effects as these is to exalt mere expression to supreme heights, and to risk the loss of clearness and emphasis” (Dobson 130). Isocrates continuously practiced writing essays to develop his eloquent style that is studied today. The repetition of organizing compositions perfected the clear voice that is heard through the style of Isocrates. According to Dobson, Dionysius noted that dissonance or clashing of consonants is rare because Isocrates strictly followed his own rules when composing rhetoric. Dissonance is a cacophony of words. The discipline to follow one’s own work establishes ethos with the readers know that Isocrates was not only teaching lessons of rhetoric, but he practiced them in his own work as well. The final characteristic of Isocrates’s style is his attention to rhythm. While there were other rhetors that criticized Isocrates use of iambic rhythm because the other rhetors believed iambic rhythm was far too similar to colloquial speech at the time. “Never, perhaps, has there been a writer who attained such luxuriant complexity in his composition of sentences” (Keith online). While there are critics who would oppose that statement, but when one reviews Isocrates’s works it is irrefutable Isocrates was a master of rhetoric. Isocrates was dedicated in his efforts to have all his compositions parallel in word, sense, and sound.
One legacy imparted by Isocrates is his influence on education. Due to natural disabilities and the need to make one’s living, Isocrates became an educator of which profession he was most fitted. As an educator Isocrates would only accept students because the prospective students had mastered grammar and could demonstrate knowledge in sciences and mathematics. He believed the skills were important for the understanding of rhetoric, philosophy, and civics (Keith online). Isocrates believed there are three requisites: natural aptitude, theoretical training, and practical experience. He believed natural aptitude was by far the most important. A student may be taught a concept continuously however; if the student does not have a desire to learn then they will never care how much the lesson is brought to the classroom. Isocrates desired his pupils to undertake rigorous teachings to comprehend the world around them and learn from the previous rhetors. “The training included studies in composition, debate, literature, philosophy, math, and history” (Dobson 136). Isocrates wanted his students’ minds keen and sharp to be able to become citizen orators. “Isocrates believed rhetoric and political science were one in the same” (Keith online). Isocrates demanded of his pupils to be able to have dialogues about the current issues of the day whether forming essays or in debates. Only did Isocrates create a rigorous environment for his pupils, he was the first teacher to implement the use of imitation and models as tools in his teachings. Perhaps Isocrates inventive thinking was one reason why other rhetors stated that Isocrates possessed some of the greatest pupils.
Isocrates believed that through the studies of philosophy, one could assess the proper ways in which to address an audience through emotional appeals concerning one’s own stature in society as well as the status of inner state relations. He believed morals were directly related to politics and the efficiency of an educated citizenry. Relating these rhetoric disciplines to the uses in society, Isocrates speaks about the necessity of the approval of man, or an appeal to ethos must proceed an appeal to pathos, to justify the moral appeals (and therefore political appeals) regarding the nature of the rhetoric. Being a teacher of rhetoric he considered education to be the priority, and education prompted an active political life which in turn positively affected a systematic political ideology. However there is no argument in such a way to defend yourself as simply more deft in knowledge than another, as Isocrates assesses in his writings “Helen,” “But it seems to me to be the most ridiculous thing of all to attempt to convince people by such words that they possess knowledge of political affairs, while in the course of these very professions they might display it (Isocrates, Helen, J.A. Freese translation).” As in today's political parties, argumentative discourse is only contributive if the rhetors are addressing the opposite view's factual relevance. In hindsight, the political teachings of Isocrates were based off of his teachings of the "noble" subjects, or vir bonus dicendi peritus, which still echo in the political strategies widely used today.
As a citizen of fourth-century Athens there was a surprisingly little amount of recognition during Isocrates’ lifetime concerning his work on rhetoric. It wasn’t until the period of the Enlightenment that scholars rediscovered the works of Isocrates and studied them: “Scholars in Antiquity and in the Renaissance regarded Isocrates (436-388 BC) as the preeminent rhetorician of ancient Athens and accordingly made him a central figure in their picture of fourth-century Athens. For the majority of modern scholars, however, he is a figure of inadequacy. He is an exception in a moment of otherwise remarkably self-aware literacy, political and intellectual achievement that we have come to know as ‘Classical Athens.’ (Yun Lee Too).” This “self-aware literacy” reflects the style of rhetoric that Isocrates was known for. He placed much focus on the ability to prove a point from multiple angles, pulling circumstances from his own active political life which in some ways made him appear to some rhetoricians as “more style than logic (Too),” and in other opinions this style is said to have given him an authentic path to wisdom. However, political science in Isocrates’ eyes should be based on proofs, and arguments with an assessment of the opposing view. “Logos” can be thought of by rhetoricians as having its own language, where a citizen of a society can use its use of logic as proof of useful membership. This usage of the rhetoric Isocrates found to be the most democratic form, where individuals could reflect their allegiance to their society through rhetoric training and understanding. “If Schmitt-Pantel is right to see Democratic ethos as being constituted precisely by the willingness of the individual to see himself and to be seen as a member of the group, then democracy is a society that supports and encourages rhetorical discourse. (Too)”
In addition to analyzing, a significant amount of Isocrates works and teaching it is evident that Isocrates was a student of his own teaching and practiced his work throughout his life. The structures of his compositions were eloquently formed, so that he would not release one of his works until he condemned it ideal. Being the educator he was Isocrates would spent his time devoted to his students, and he imparted his knowledge and understanding of rhetoric to all his pupils. The dedication he exemplified to his own teachings he wanted his students to develop a similar discipline to their studies, which in turn would shape their character in Isocrates’s thoughts. The belief that education and political life were directly related is one reason why Isocrates was persistent in teaching his students about ethics and their ability to develop discipline. Isocrates whether he was aware of the fact or not inevitably affected rhetoric with his compositions and his teachings. Isocrates forever will remain as a contributor to rhetoric.
Sorry it is hard to distinguish between paragraphs!
I am so sorry I did not get this up earlier. Jordyn and I went over the paper during the class period today.
This is very similar to the above paper but with some minor changes.
Jessica Brown, Jordyn Hicks, and Karen Perkins
Professor Medved
English Composition 1101
23 February 2012
Immortal Isocrates
Little did he know when he started his life in 436 BCE, Isocrates, a respected teacher and philosohper created a new birth which is known as rhetoric. Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, so how did Isocrates contribute to rhetoric? His method of teaching students to speak well on noble subjects remained the ideal of the ancient world. His whole life he taught for the love of teaching and the reward of teaching someone his views. "There is no institution devised by man which the power of speech has not helped to establish” (Keith online). The education Isocrates imparted to his pupils was one that Isocrates believed would not only serve the students in their time in school, but later in life when these students would become politicians. Possibly his students would be rhetors similar to that of Isocrates. The education the students gleaned would shape their characters, which Isocrates ultimately believed would mold their futures. Through perseverance and dedication, Isocrates achieved eloquent structure within his works leading to a legacy of teaching and political influence, which forever strengthened the art of rhetoric.
Isocrates earned his place among the great ancient rhetors due to his mastery of style and vocabulary, which were exemplified in his practice. Common discoveries in the writings of Isocrates are smooth style of composition, dissonance or clashing of consonants is rare, and the attention to rhythm. Critics of Isocrates note smooth style of composition. “It is clear that to aim consciously at producing such effects as these is to exalt mere expression to supreme heights, and to risk the loss of clearness and emphasis” (Dobson 130). Isocrates continuously practiced writing essays to develop his eloquent style that is studied today. The repetition of organizing compositions perfected the clear voice that is heard through the style of Isocrates. According to Dobson, Dionysius noted that dissonance or clashing of consonants is rare because Isocrates strictly followed his own rules when composing rhetoric. Dissonance is a cacophony of words. The discipline to follow one’s own work establishes ethos with the audience to know that Isocrates was not only teaching lessons of rhetoric, but he practiced them in his own work as well. The final characteristic of Isocrates’s style is his attention to rhythm. While there were other rhetors that criticized Isocrates use of iambic rhythm because the other rhetors believed iambic rhythm was far too similar to colloquial speech at the time. “Never, perhaps, has there been a writer who attained such luxuriant complexity in his composition of sentences” (Keith online). While there are critics who would oppose that statement however, when one reviews Isocrates’s body of work, it is irrefutable. Isocrates was a master of rhetoric. Isocrates was dedicated in his efforts to have all his compositions parallel in word, sense, and sound.
One legacy imparted by Isocrates is his influence on education. Due to natural disabilities and the need to make one’s living, Isocrates became an educator of which profession he was most fitted. As an educator Isocrates would only accept students because the prospective students had mastered grammar and could demonstrate knowledge in sciences and mathematics. He believed the skills were important for the understanding of rhetoric, philosophy, and civics (Keith online). Isocrates believed there are three requisites: natural aptitude, theoretical training, and practical experience. He believed natural aptitude was by far the most important. A student may be taught a concept continuously however; if the student does not have a desire to learn then they will never care how much the lesson is brought to the classroom. Isocrates desired his pupils to undertake rigorous teachings to comprehend the world around them and learn from the previous rhetors. “The training included studies in composition, debate, literature, philosophy, math, and history” (Dobson 136). Isocrates wanted his students’ minds keen and sharp to be able to become citizen orators. “Isocrates believed rhetoric and political science were one in the same” (Keith online). Isocrates demanded of his pupils to be able to have dialogues about the current issues of the day whether forming essays or in debates. Not only did Isocrates create a rigorous environment for his pupils, he was the first teacher to implement the use of imitation and models as tools in his teachings. Perhaps Isocrates' inventive thinking was one reason why other rhetors stated that Isocrates possessed some of the greatest pupils. Due to his inventive teaching style, Isocrates’s school was considered one of the most prestigious institutions of the period.
Isocrates believed that through the studies of philosophy, one could assess the proper ways in which to address an audience through emotional appeals concerning one’s own stature in society as well as the status of inner state relations. He believed morals were directly related to politics and the efficiency of an educated citizenry. Relating these rhetoric disciplines to the uses in society, Isocrates speaks about the necessity of the approval of man, or an appeal to ethos must proceed an appeal to pathos, to justify the moral appeals (and therefore political appeals) regarding the nature of the rhetoric. Being a teacher of rhetoric he considered education to be the priority, and education prompted an active political life which in turn positively affected a systematic political ideology. However there is no argument in such a way to defend yourself as simply more deft in knowledge than another, as Isocrates assesses in his writings “Helen,” “But it seems to me to be the most ridiculous thing of all to attempt to convince people by such words that they possess knowledge of political affairs, while in the course of these very professions they might display it (Isocrates, Helen, J.A. Freese translation).” As in today's political parties, argumentative discourse is only contributive if the rhetors are addressing the opposite view's factual relevance. In hindsight, the political teachings of Isocrates were based off of his teachings of the "noble" subjects, or vir bonus dicendi peritus, which still echo in the political strategies widely used today. As a citizen of fourth-century Athens there was a surprisingly little amount of recognition during Isocrates’ lifetime concerning his work on rhetoric. It wasn’t until the period of the Enlightenment that scholars rediscovered the works of Isocrates and studied them: “Scholars in Antiquity and in the Renaissance regarded Isocrates (436-388 BC) as the preeminent rhetorician of ancient Athens and accordingly made him a central figure in their picture of fourth-century Athens. For the majority of modern scholars, however, he is a figure of inadequacy. He is an exception in a moment of otherwise remarkably self-aware literacy, political and intellectual achievement that we have come to know as ‘Classical Athens.’ (Yun Lee Too).” This “self-aware literacy” reflects the style of rhetoric that Isocrates was known for. He placed much focus on the ability to prove a point from multiple angles, pulling circumstances from his own active political life which in some ways made him appear to some rhetoricians as “more style than logic (Too),” and in other opinions this style is said to have given him an authentic path to wisdom. However, political science in Isocrates’ eyes should be based on proofs, and arguments with an assessment of the opposing view. “Logos” can be thought of by rhetoricians as having its own language, where a citizen of a society can use its use of logic as proof of useful membership. This usage of the rhetoric Isocrates found to be the most democratic form, where individuals could reflect their allegiance to their society through rhetoric training and understanding. “If Schmitt-Pantel is right to see Democratic ethos as being constituted precisely by the willingness of the individual to see himself and to be seen as a member of the group, then democracy is a society that supports and encourages rhetorical discourse. (Too)”
In addition to analyzing, a significant amount of Isocrates works and teaching shows evidence that Isocrates was a student of his own teaching and practiced his work throughout his life. The structures of his compositions were eloquently formed, so that he would not release one of his works until he condemned it ideal. Being the educator he was, Isocrates would spent his time devoted to his students, and he imparted his knowledge and understanding of rhetoric to all his pupils. The dedication he exemplified to his own teachings he wanted his students to develop a similar discipline to their studies, which in turn would shape their character in Isocrates’s thoughts. The belief that education and political life were directly related is one reason why Isocrates was persistent in teaching his students about ethics and their ability to develop discipline. Isocrates, whether he was aware of the fact or not, inevitably affected rhetoric with his compositions and his teachings. Isocrates forever will remain as a contributor to rhetoric.
cites for jessica:
Freese, J.H. "Isocrates,Helen." classicpersuasion.org. George Bell & Sons, 1894. Web. 20 Feb 2012. <http://classicpersuasion.org/pw/isocrates/pwisoc10.htm>.
Too, Yun Lee. The rhetoric of identity in Isocrates: text, power, pedagogy. New York: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge, 1995. 1-5. Web. <http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=W9eIUQKBWj0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA240&dq=isocrates political rhetoric&ots=7y_6W2hZw2&sig=uOjSZZYDg9aLKUWSLxaG0lsD-WA
Mirhady, David, and Yun Lee Too. Isocrates I. 1. 4. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2004. 1-9. Web. <http://books.google.com/books?id=Bbrt6X4KCUMC&pg=RA1-PA35&lpg=RA1-PA35&dq=noble subjects isocrates&source=bl&ots=Ta8dAjrIYr&sig=S70_hoaeukCtRW62JT-NBWCMBwo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Qc5BT-ulAoX6tgeqyIixCg&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA
THE PRESENTATION: http://prezi.com/iwy13yux1hvi/isocrates/
