Isocrates
Isocrates was born five years shy of the beginning of the Peloponnesian War (431 B. C.) in Athens to wealthy parents. When Isocrates was fourteen, the democracy voted on the death of all the male citizens of Thracian, a city in Scione. Since that incident, Isocrates sought to unite Greece and for it to be in peace. This remained his political philosophy through the years. After the Peloponnesian War, Isocrates lost all his inherited wealth and had to make a living on his own. He began writing speeches for others; primarily for them to be used in court. Although he wrote speeches, he didn’t have what it took to become a public speaker. In turn, he focused on education. In 392 B.C., he started his own school for which he taught at …show more content…
Be believed that the “tedious, abstract arguments of Plato” about human nature and metaphysics (branch of philosophy that questioned the nature of being, existence, and reality) was complete “gibberish”. Isocrates was a simple man who believed in solving immediate problems. He believed that reality was an instant human experience, “what you see is what you get.” He believed that knowledge was provisional and that also we don’t know anything for sure. He promoted political ideals which would help unify Greece. He believed that education helped the world go round.
Isocrates is the epitome of a rhetorician. It is said that he is the most influential teacher of ancient history of rhetoric. Isocrates wrote numerous pieces with the intent for other men to deliver them. He sought to persuade public opinions and political leaders through his words. Isocrates took a step further to teach his skill on rhetoric to others. He viewed rhetoric as a powerful tool to use for “human betterment” if done correctly. This is why I believe Isocrates is a …show more content…
Although Plato’s academy influenced Aristotle, who was one of the most influential rhetoricians of all times, Isocrates’ school became an example for school systems in Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. He is also known as the father of liberal education. But Isocrates’ influence did not end there, his influence is directly seen today. As mentioned earlier, Isocrates focused on immediate problems. Fast forward hundreds of centuries and you see protests to persuade others to end inequalities between race, gender, etc.; a problem of immediate
Isocrates was born five years shy of the beginning of the Peloponnesian War (431 B. C.) in Athens to wealthy parents. When Isocrates was fourteen, the democracy voted on the death of all the male citizens of Thracian, a city in Scione. Since that incident, Isocrates sought to unite Greece and for it to be in peace. This remained his political philosophy through the years. After the Peloponnesian War, Isocrates lost all his inherited wealth and had to make a living on his own. He began writing speeches for others; primarily for them to be used in court. Although he wrote speeches, he didn’t have what it took to become a public speaker. In turn, he focused on education. In 392 B.C., he started his own school for which he taught at …show more content…
Be believed that the “tedious, abstract arguments of Plato” about human nature and metaphysics (branch of philosophy that questioned the nature of being, existence, and reality) was complete “gibberish”. Isocrates was a simple man who believed in solving immediate problems. He believed that reality was an instant human experience, “what you see is what you get.” He believed that knowledge was provisional and that also we don’t know anything for sure. He promoted political ideals which would help unify Greece. He believed that education helped the world go round.
Isocrates is the epitome of a rhetorician. It is said that he is the most influential teacher of ancient history of rhetoric. Isocrates wrote numerous pieces with the intent for other men to deliver them. He sought to persuade public opinions and political leaders through his words. Isocrates took a step further to teach his skill on rhetoric to others. He viewed rhetoric as a powerful tool to use for “human betterment” if done correctly. This is why I believe Isocrates is a …show more content…
Although Plato’s academy influenced Aristotle, who was one of the most influential rhetoricians of all times, Isocrates’ school became an example for school systems in Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. He is also known as the father of liberal education. But Isocrates’ influence did not end there, his influence is directly seen today. As mentioned earlier, Isocrates focused on immediate problems. Fast forward hundreds of centuries and you see protests to persuade others to end inequalities between race, gender, etc.; a problem of immediate