Schiappa – Sophistic Rhetoric: Image or Mirage?

Schiappa – “Sophistic Rhetoric: Oasis or Mirage?” S. begins by noting that the sophistic turn is valuable in contemporary rhetorical studies as it provides scholars who see the working of discourse rooted in ancient Greece an alternative to the Platonic and Aristotelian traditions.  Yet, Schiappa sees this move as merely an act of mimesis – upon further scrutiny, the relationship between historical sophistical rhetoric and the current situation... Read More

Schiappa – History and Neo-Sophistic Criticism: A Reply to Poulakos

Schiappa – “History and Neo-Sophistic Criticism:  A Reply to Poulakos” S. begins with an acceptance of facts as theory-bound and socially/rhetorically constructed; however, he reiterates his own position that distinguishing between a rational and historical account is absolutely necessary.  For S. the difference lies in the “aim” of the interpretations – to what use are these interpretations being applied?  Likewise, just because all... Read More

Poulakos – Interpreting Sophistical Rhetoric: A Response to Schiappa

Poulakos – “Interpreting Sophistical Rhetoric: A Response to Schiappa” Poulakos comes out guns a’blazin in this response to Schiappa’s critique.  He notes that in the response he will argue that 1) Schiappa has no case; 2) even if he did have a case, it could not be supported, and 3) even if it could be supported, it would be useless.  WOW. P begins his invective by taking S. to task for relying exclusively on philological evidence to... Read More

Schiappa – Neo-Sophistic Rhetorical Criticism or the Historical Reconstruction of Sophistic Doctrines

Edward Schiappa – “Neo-Sophistic Rhetorical Criticism or the Historical Reconstruction of Sophistic Doctrines?” S. notes that he wants folks doing work with Sophistic argumentation and philosophy/rhetoric to be aware of two things when they are creating scholarship.  Specifically, he hopes to explore the methodological requirements that distinguish both neo-sophistic rhetorical theory and historical reconstruction (historiography) of sophistic... Read More

Poulakos – Rhetoric, The Sophists, and the Possible

John Poulakos – “Rhetoric, The Sophists, and the Possible” Summary:  This essay argues that the rhetoric of the Sophists exhibits a distinct preference for the world of possibility. As such, it is different from Aristotle’s rhetoric, which privileges the world of actuality. After showing how this is so, the essay compares the sophistical and the Aristotelian versions of rhetoric by discussing their respective implications for language... Read More