Rhetoric and Rhetoricians

18 Fevereiro 2020, 10:00 • Fotini Hadjittofi

The Value and Truth of Rhetoric Questions

How is Gorgias represented by Plato? Is he a “sophist”? How about his disciple? What does Socrates / Plato have against rhetoric?
What was the impact of Plato’s ideas on rhetoric (in antiquity and beyond)?

Primary Text
Plato, Gorgias

Secondary Readings

Yunis, H. 2006. “Plato’s Rhetoric”, I. Worthington, A Companion to Greek Rhetoric: 75–89. Oxford.

Yunis, H. 2017. “Plato’s Rhetoric in Theory and Practice”, in M. MacDonald, The Oxford Handbook of Rhetorical Studies: 121–131. Oxford.

Quintilian

Questions

Quintilian’s modern standing as a rhetorician has been questioned by some scholars. What do you think is the reason for the sometimes unfavourable reception of his ideas?

What is the basis for Quintilian’s argument that orators should take over the “principles of upright and honourable living” from philosophers? Does this expectation seem realistic or even desirable?

In Institutio Oratoria 1, Quintilian asks, “Who—if not an utter villain—does not speak about justice and equity and goodness?” What does this question imply about Romans? Do you think this question has any basis in fact? Is this question applicable to our contemporary world?

Does Quintilian’s lack of acknowledgement in the Institutio Oratoria that some students could not complete his curriculum successfully tell us anything about Roman society at the time? Or does this tell us more about the personal beliefs of Quintilian regarding his own educational program?

Why would Quintilian express displeasure with what he calls “humanity”, which he describes as consisting of “mutual praise without regard to quality”, given that it would make education appear more egalitarian?

Is Quintilian’s concern that teachers dedicate themselves to the moral education of their students reflected in the status of moral education in modern schools?

In Institutio Oratoria 2, Quintilian complains that grammatici were expanding their curricula by adding rhetoric to the standard instruction in literature. What may have been some of the reasons for and consequences of this expansion?

How does Quintilian’s emphasis upon morality and civic virtue of a public speaker (uir bonus, dicendi peritus, “a good man skilled in speaking”, Institutio Oratoria 12.1.1) compare with the expected behaviour and conduct of a public figure today?

Quintilian stresses the importance of imitation and memorization in learning. What roles do these skills play in our education system today?

Primary Text
Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria 1 praef. 1–1.1.37, 2.1.1–2.4.23

Secondary Readings

Dominik, W. J. 2020. “Modern Assessments of Quintilian”, in M. van der Poel, M. Edwards, and J. J. Murphy (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Quintilian. Oxford. (forthcoming)

López, J. F. 2007. “Quintilian as Rhetorician and Teacher”, in W. Dominik and J. Hall (eds.), A Companion to Roman Rhetoric: 307–322. Oxford.