COMM 4008 - Rhetoric in Greece

3 cr. 3 hr. Offered every other year

This course explores rhetoric’s origin and evolution in classical Greece through two primary lenses: the relationship between rhetoric and democracy and the contrasting understanding of truth in Sophistic rhetoric and Socratic philosophy. Students begin by investigating the transition from orality to literacy in Ancient Greece before moving on to explore how Plato’s critique of rhetoric still impacts the field of communications media today. On a spring break trip, students explore historical locations in Greece associated with these debates in order to develop a deeper appreciation of their historical and cultural context. Finally, students will explore how the Greek intellectual tradition informs contemporary rhetorical and democratic practices, with an emphasis on fake news and post-truth. AIA, ART, CV, IHIP