Logos and Power in Isocrates and Aristotle

"Against a background of neglect and misconception, Haskins clarifies and complicates Isocrates' legacy to Western culture: clarifies by describing what it was and what it still can be; complicates by asking us to consider previously unexamined issues. In particular, she focuses attention on such important concerns as performance, agency, and the methods we use to study them. . . . Following Isocrates, Haskins reminds us that we must practice what we preach by studying the history of rhetoric holistically—that is, in integrative and intertextual ways, and as part of ongoing academic debates, which inform civic and educational practices."—Rhetorical Review

"The main strength of Haskins' argument is her resurrection of Isocratean rhetoric from the shadow of Aristotle's codified dominance. Haskins provides considerable evidence for rethinking the importance of Isocrates' understanding of rhetoric."—Polis: The Journal of the Society for Greek Political Thought

"Haskins' elegant and original book will reward readers with insight into the relation between Isocrates and Aristotle, and into the political and pedagogical implications of their positions. It is a great step forward for the Isocratean revival."—Rhetoric Society Quarterly

2005 Everett Lee Hunt Award for Outstanding Scholarship from the Eastern Communication Association