Against whom speaks Isocrates in his Letter To Alexander?
Abstract
In his letter to Alexander Isocrates presents and speaks in favour of one of two educational models, considering inferior the one he does not advocate for. Against whom he directs his critical evaluation of eristic didactics based on the art of disputation (τὴν περὶ τὰς ἔριδας) is the issue to discuss. The author of this article argues against the common interpretation of the letter, according to which Isocrates expresses his negative opinion on the eristic pedagogy of Platonic Academy, that is applied by Aristotle, the teacher of Alexander, as his educational model. The material as presented in the article leads to the conclusion that both critisism and approval of a certain educational model found in the letter to Alexander may be referred to Aristotle’s teaching program, while the choice recommended to the future ruler concerns only some ‘internal’ preferences and the general knowledge in the subject.
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