Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Communications from the University of Kansas in 1979 with a thesis "Gorgias on rhetoric".
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John Poulakos
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Career
Poulakos received his Master of Arts from California State University, San Jose in 1972 with a thesis "Toward an existential theory of dialogue". Poulakos moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is currently the associate professor of Communication and Rhetoric at the University of Pittsburgh. At Pittsburgh, Poulakos specializes in classical rhetorical theory, philosophy and rhetoric, and history of rhetoric.
Main themes
Poulakos says that sophistry, as a rhetorical era, has been bogged down by philosophers like Plato, and deserves more respect and contemporary appreciation.
Poulakos" main concern is that the importance in sophistic discourse can be broken down into five different points: rhetoric is an art, style can be used as personal expression, kairos, which is the opportune moment, to prepon, also known as the appropriate moment, and to dynaton, meaning "the possible." Sophistry has influenced three modern rhetorical practices: the logic of circumstances, the ethic of competition, and the aesthetic of exhibition.
Achievements
Views
His publications have promoted the work and importance of the Sophists in Ancient Greece, who were often overlooked due to Plato"s harsh criticism.
