Isocrates and Plato on the Art of Rhetoric

Sophists in Greek times featured practical knowledge, which include governing and decision making. Sophists were willing to teach anyone who could pay for their services; therefore you had to have been raised in a wealthy family in order to be included. Isocrates was a sophist and opened the first permanent institution of higher liberal arts education. He taught the art of writing essays and how to become a great orator in his school. He focused mainly on the morality issues of topical political issues. Critics of these teachings were lead by Plato. The emphasis taught by Isocrates was contrary to the traditional philosophers, like Plato, who were engaged in seeking the truth. Plato made his skills of governance available to anyone, regardless of birth and wealth. Plato viewed rhetoric as, “Mere flattery and as a vehicle for misleading others”, (Golden, p.9). Isocrates and Plato had different views of what rhetoric meant; their views are contrasted throughout the paper.

Isocrates believed that rhetoric was meant to be read rather then delivered. The rhetoric he taught exhibited vocabulary, figures of speech, and many illustrations from history and philosophy. Isocrates th

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