Isocrates' Mimetic Philosophy
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
2012
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1331049173 |
| id |
ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu1331049173 |
|---|---|
| record_format |
oai_dc |
| spelling |
ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu13310491732021-08-03T06:04:48Z Isocrates' Mimetic Philosophy Bowden, Chelsea Mina Ancient Civilizations Ancient History Ancient Languages Classical Studies Education History Philosophy Rhetoric Isocrates Philosophy Plato Mimesis Greece Greek Oratory Rhetoric Antidosis Nicocles Athens Paideia <p>This thesis argues that Isocrates was a philosopher and practiced philosophy, a view contrary to the majority of scholars, who view Isocrates solely as an orator or rhetorician. The study of Isocrates’ philosophy has been neglected primarily due to its dissimilarity to the philosophy of Plato, and Isocrates’ work has therefore not been regarded as philosophy, despite Isocrates’ frequent claims to practice philosophy. The goal of Isocrates’ philosophy is to improve decision-making in public affairs by attempting to arrive at the best course of action in any particular situation through a process of conjectures and approximations, which are founded in conventional wisdom.</p><p>A student of Isocrates’ philosophy learns what conjectures are suitable from exemplary men whom he takes as models for his own thought. For Isocrates, these men were successful Athenian politicians such as Solon, Cleisthenes, Themistocles, and Pericles, whom the community generally esteemed to be excellent. The best way to understand the thought of these men was through reading and imitating the speeches that they wrote. For Isocrates, speaking well and thinking well were inseparable, and therefore the construction of a speech, with thoughts parallel to those of his model, was both producing a philosophical text but also practicing philosophy. Having multiple models to draw upon is preferable in determining which excellent thoughts one should fit to the situation at hand in the speech. </p><p>As speech-writing is such an important aspect of his philosophy, a portion of his educational program consisted of learning the different figures of speech and methods of composition and how to suit and adapt them to the situation at hand to produce a speech that is persuasive to the audience. Isocrates believes that not everyone can do this complex interweaving of composition and situation effectively, however, his educational program will improve everyone’s abilities, though true ability is reserved for those with natural talent as well as training. Even if a speech is constructed well and contains excellent thoughts, it still may fail to persuade an audience. Isocrates believes that this can happen due to a poor reputation and the confusion or ignorance of the audience, factors which played a large role in his student Timotheus’ failure to obtain an acquittal on charges of treason despite being an excellent general and following Isocrates’ educational program. </p><p>Any student of Isocrates could achieve so much success that he could become a model for other students to imitate in their speech-writing. Isocrates provides an example of this in the Nicocles, which Isocrates writes in the voice of the tyrant Nicocles, who models his own speech after Evagoras and To Nicocles, two speeches by Isocrates written in his own voice. While many scholars have argued that in the Antidosis Isocrates imitates the philosophy of Socrates in Plato’s Apology, he actually only adopts the situation that Socrates was in and fits his own thoughts to it, exemplifying his philosophy in action. Through studying Isocrates’ philosophy, we can more fully understand the philosophical climate in Athens in the 4th century BCE.</p> 2012-06-19 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1331049173 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1331049173 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
| collection |
NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Ancient Civilizations Ancient History Ancient Languages Classical Studies Education History Philosophy Rhetoric Isocrates Philosophy Plato Mimesis Greece Greek Oratory Rhetoric Antidosis Nicocles Athens Paideia |
| spellingShingle |
Ancient Civilizations Ancient History Ancient Languages Classical Studies Education History Philosophy Rhetoric Isocrates Philosophy Plato Mimesis Greece Greek Oratory Rhetoric Antidosis Nicocles Athens Paideia Bowden, Chelsea Mina Isocrates' Mimetic Philosophy |
| author |
Bowden, Chelsea Mina |
| author_facet |
Bowden, Chelsea Mina |
| author_sort |
Bowden, Chelsea Mina |
| title |
Isocrates' Mimetic Philosophy |
| title_short |
Isocrates' Mimetic Philosophy |
| title_full |
Isocrates' Mimetic Philosophy |
| title_fullStr |
Isocrates' Mimetic Philosophy |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Isocrates' Mimetic Philosophy |
| title_sort |
isocrates' mimetic philosophy |
| publisher |
The Ohio State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2012 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1331049173 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT bowdenchelseamina isocratesmimeticphilosophy |
| _version_ |
1719430512750100480 |