Isocrates and che origin of civic education. Validity of a classical author

Abstract

Isocrates has been neglect as one of the main figures of the main political thought. This essay tries his philosophical legacy particularly his work as civic educator. Today it is necessary because it is indispensable to construct citizenship. His method in order to promote democracy was public deliberation not only to verbal discussion but also to the diffusion of his writings. Isocrates promoted the creation of public spaces in which the deliberation was possible. That is why he is consider a contributor of the "public spaces" as we know it today. What we underline is that Isocrates believed in the value of the word as the main transformation of the man and the political regimes. The democracy that he had in mind was the regime set up by Solon and Clistenes. He always took into account this model in order to restore the civic life in Athens and the good government in the political communities in Greece. Isocrates was enemy of the barbarians and demagogues.