Michael Leff, professor of communication at the University of Memphis, presented a lecture, "Out of the Cave: Isocrates, Tradition, and Humanistic Rhetoric," at Hamilton on Oct. 21. Discussing the similarities of ancient Greek philosophers Isocrates and Plato, Leff addressed a large, attentive audience.
Leff began by describing Isocrates, pupil of Socrates, contemporary of Plato, and great Athenian speechwriter who lived from 430 BC until 339 BC. Isocrates began writing speeches at a young age, as his wealthy family lost much of their fortune during war. Although an amazing speechwriter, Leff claimed that Isocrates never gave one of his speeches, saying that his voice was not great enough to orate to Athens. He was known as the inventor of modern journalism, as he was the first to tell and record the events of a given day. However, Isocrates found little satisfaction in speechwriting, and turned to teaching.
Isocrates then opened up his own school, rival to Plato's Academy, and taught at the school for many years. Isocrates's pedagogy brought him great fame, and it is because of his distinct ideas that shaped liberal education that we remember him today.
The majority of the writings discussing Isocrates and his thought are predominately negative, and according to Leff, imply that Isocrates was "mediocrity in a sea of genius" and was rather deficient when compared to other philosophers of the same era. Leff continued to highlight the old ways in which people have compared Isocrates and Plato, ultimately denouncing Isocrates's work and upholding Plato's ideal theories.
Leff contended, however, that recently, scholars and critics have challenged this negative criticism, and veered away from strictly comparing Isocrates to Plato or other philosophers. Instead, people now are trying to understand Iscorates's theory, as he was clearly important to Greek society and adds tremendous ideas to our current concept of liberal education. Touching on four major and well respected critics supporting Isocrates, Leff made it clear that Isocrates' thoughts were still applicable today, and as "his system of education assumes people are fallible, inconsistent, and contingent. "
Leff's argument concluded that although Isocrates' theory gives us a less ideal society that is morally less pure than Plato's society, Isocrates gives us a real society, and adds ordinary, practical experiences, and although not perfect in nature, his theory applies to real life. These theories of pedagogy and learning have historically shaped education, and are responsible for the liberal education that Hamilton College students receive every day.
-Emily Lemanczyk '05
