CFP: Plato and Rhetoric

International Symposium “Plato and Rhetoric”  organized by the JSPS Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Project

From the evening of 25 to 27 April 2014
The Hiyoshi Campus of Keio University, Japan http://www.keio.ac.jp/en/maps/hiyoshi.html>

Plato is usually thought to be hostile to rhetoric in contrast to philosophy. However, we can observe that his dialogues are deeply embedded in the rhetorical tradition: in particular, the Apology of Socrates (forensic) and Menexenus (epitaphic). Speakers of the dialogues make much use of rhetorical skills to persuade others. Even the Gorgias and Phaedrus, the two main examinations of rhetoric, seem to propose the genuine art of rhetoric (which may be dialectic). In this conference, we would like to re-examine the notion and background of rhetoric in and around Plato’s dialogues.

We invite proposals for 30-minute papers (in English). Abstracts (about 300 words) should be sent to the organizers by the end of December 2013. A selection will be made in early January. The organizing committee will financially support the speakers for accommodation on the campus (up to 3 nights).

Please contact the organizer for further details.

Noburu Notomi, Keio University, Japan [email protected]