Advances in the History of Rhetoric Apr 2011

The Stoicism of the Ideal Orator: Cicero's Hellenistic Ideal

Brandon Inabinet

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis reading of De Oratore uses Stoic philosophy and rhetoric to trace out a complex Ciceronian theory of rhetoric. Cicero rejected Stoic style, labeling it as meager and unpersuasive. However, he coalesced Stoic philosophy with Greek rhetoric to produce his ideal orator. Cicero described eloquentia as natural public speech that was distinctive to every person, yet he also explained how eloquence, like wisdom, unified aspects of the entire universe. Through these connections, Stoic influences enabled Cicero to negotiate major questions concerning rhetoric, such as the emotional control of the orator, the virtue of eloquence, and the status of rhetoric as an art. Cicero's negotiation is productive of a theory of rhetoric that is useful today, especially as it holds speech and public action as important and fundamental acts of human individuality.

Journal
Advances in the History of Rhetoric
Published
2011-04-15
DOI
10.1080/15362426.2011.559400
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Topics
rhetorical theory race and writing multilingual writers voice and style

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

Cites in this index (1)

  1. Walzer (2003)
    Quntilian's<i>“Vir Bonus”</i>and the stoic wise man
    Rhetoric Society Quarterly
Also cites 19 works outside this index ↓
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    Classical Quarterly  ↗
  2. Cicero (1999)
    Cicero: On the Commonwealth and On the Laws
     ↗
  3. Cicero (2001)
    Cicero: On Moral Ends
     ↗
  4. Cicero (2001)
    Cicero: On the Ideal Orator
     ↗
  5. Fortenbaugh (2005)
    Cicero as a Reporter of Aristotelian and Theophrastean Rhetorical Doctrine
    Rhetorica  ↗
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    Stoicism & Emotion
     ↗
  7. Hall (1996)
    Social Evasion and Aristocratic Manners in Cicero's De Oratore
    American Journal of Philology  ↗
  8. Hall (2004)
    Cicero and Quintilian on the Oratorical Use of Hand Gestures
    The Classical Quarterly  ↗
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    Sermo and Stoic Sociality in Cicero's De Officiis
    Rhetorica  ↗
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    The ‘Q’ Question
     ↗
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    Southern Speech Communication Journal  ↗
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     ↗
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     ↗
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     ↗
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CrossRef global citation count: 4 View in citation network →

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