Rhetorica Feb 2007

Rhetoric, Philosophy and Politics: Isocrates and the homologoumene arete

Evangelos Alexiou Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Abstract

Abstract With the notion of homologoumene arete Isocrates shows himself to be an exponent of popular ethics, or “common sense”. Isocrates integrates established concepts of everyday ethics with his idea of education, which at all levels he brings into association with public affirmation. This is not a notion of education concerned only with inner values—Platonic education, viewed from this perspective, has to appear reductionist—but with a conception of homologoumene arete that manifests itself as publicly effective, in the sense of traditional polis-ethics. Isocrates proclaims the unity of appearance and reality and remains, even in the face of failures, such as the case of his pupil Timotheos, an optimist. He justifies aspirations for influence and success, which are a consideration for all mankind, as long as these are aroused within the frame of justice, but unjust Realpolitik can not be absolutely avoided.

Journal
Rhetorica
Published
2007-02-01
DOI
10.1525/rh.2007.25.1.1
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
classical rhetoric rhetorical criticism
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

References (25)

  1. Walter U. (1996)
    Geschichte in Wissenschaft und Unterricht
  2. Schiappa E. (1995)
    10.1017/CBO9780511597466.002
    in S. Mailloux [Hrsg.], Rhetoric, Sophistry, Pragmatism [Cambridge  ↗
  3. 10.1086/366418
     ↗
  4. Halliwell S. (1994)
    in D. J. Furley-A. Nehamas (Hrsg.), Aristotle's Rhetoric (Princeton
  5. Steidle Siehe (1952)
    Hermes
Show all 25 →
  1. 10.2307/283666
     ↗
  2. Braun L. (1982)
    Hermes
  3. Poulakos J. (1986)
    10.1080/10417948609372668
    Southern Speech Communication Journal  ↗
  4. nska-Maciejewska K. Tuszy (1987)
    Eos
  5. Dihle A. (1957)
    Reallexikon fur Antike und Christentum
  6. Heilbrunn Gegen G. (1975)
    Hermes
  7. Campbell B. (1984)
    History of Political Thought
  8. Hudson-Williams H. Ll. (1949)
    10.1017/S0009838800027750
    Classical Quarterly  ↗
  9. Bons J. A. E. (1993)
    10.1163/156852593X00475
    Mnemosyne  ↗
  10. Alexiou E. (2001)
    Wurzburger Jahrbucher
  11. nuomicron? Uber
    Hel.
  12. Sattler W. M. (1957)
    10.1080/03637754709374925
    Speech Monographs  ↗
  13. Schutrumpf E. (1993)
    10.1524/phil.1993.137.1.12
    Philologus  ↗
  14. 10.2307/631953
     ↗
  15. 10.2307/628928
     ↗
  16. Hadot P. (1972)
    Reallexikon fur Antike und Christentum
  17. Procope J. (1991)
    Reallexikon fur Antike und Christentum
  18. Davidson J. (1990)
    Historia
  19. Bringmann K.
    in Orth (Hrsg.), Isokrates, supra Anm.
  20. Kroner O. (1969)
    10.1515/9783110241273.102
    Antike und Abendland  ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 0 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Res Rhetorica Apr 2026
    Logos in ancient Greek discourse on rhetoric: An overview ↗
    Arkadiusz Sokolnicki
    classical rhetoric rhetorical criticism discourse analysis argument
  2. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Mar 2026
    Canon to Code: Rhetorical Rulemaking for Generative AI Content Audits and Governance ↗
    Miriam F. Williams
    classical rhetoric modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism assessment technical communication artificial intelligence
  3. Poroi Feb 2026
    Using Stasis Theory as a Heuristic for Examining Epistemological Dilemmas in a Post-Truth Landscape ↗
    Bruce Bowles
    classical rhetoric modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism discourse analysis argument
  4. Res Rhetorica Jan 2026
    Ethos – between vir bonus and VIA: Virtue ethics in contemporary rhetorical education ↗
    Agnieszka Budzyńska-Daca
    classical rhetoric modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism genre theory argument
  5. Rhetorica Jan 2026
    The Daimonion of Isocrates: Anti-Socratic Polemics and the Power of Politikoi Logoi in the Philippos ↗
    Tobias Hirsch
    classical rhetoric rhetorical criticism discourse analysis argument