Republic of Sophistan
By Steve Llano
From the Ministry of Education of the Sophistan Government, this is your weekly source for revelling in the art of debate, argument, and rhetoric. For more, visit New York City Sophist.
Cover art photo by http://www.michaeldbeckwith.com/
Republic of SophistanNov 16, 2019
00:00
30:38
NCA in Review Part 2: Panel Discussion
Professors and Graduate students chat about NCA 2019 and what they presented and how they feel about the conference.
Nov 16, 201930:38
The National Communication Association Annual Convention Day 1 reflections
I am attending the NCA convention in Baltimore and had a great first day. I reflect on communication, rhetoric, and pedagogy that came to mind after hearing today's papers.
Nov 15, 201918:01
The Return of Sophistan! Post Class Debate Comments from the Education Minister
It's been a while, but we're back. This episode features some comments made last week by the Minister of Education at Adelphi University in New York after students performed their first in-class debate assignment.
Nov 10, 201916:19
Episode 8: The President's Immigration Address & Response
The Education Minister reflects on President Trump's immigration national address, the response by Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi, and discusses what's wrong with rhetorical perspective in the United States.
Jan 12, 201919:08
Episode 7: New Book! Debating Women with author Dr. Carly Woods
At the National Communication Association convention in Salt Lake City, we had the chance to speak with Dr. Carly Woods about her new book Debating Women: Gender, Education, and Spaces for Argument, 1835-1945. It's a fascinating book that traces how women historically worked to gain access or create their own ways to practice the art of rhetoric and debating. Hear about how she researched the book, some of the amazing people who feature in the book, and what similarities debating women face today with their counterparts from the past.
Available here: msupress.org/books/book/?id=50-1D0-44DC#.W-wkE-hKiUk
Available here: msupress.org/books/book/?id=50-1D0-44DC#.W-wkE-hKiUk
Nov 14, 201846:47
Episode 6: How to Host a Debate and Why You Might Want To
The Education Ministry talks with John Patrick, Lecturer in Communication at Cal Poly about his plans to host debate events at local coffee shops for the public and university. We discuss how and why you might want to have your own debate events for your office, club, or friends. You don’t have to be connected to a University to host a debate!
Nov 07, 201837:11
Episode 5: The Baffler's Baffling Model of Debate
Dr. Cate Morrison from the University of Rhode Island joins the Minister of Education in unpacking the recent essay in The Baffler - "Speaking Ills" which argues that debate is a poor way to achieve knowledge and resolve ideological conflicts. We're confused - Who says debate is supposed to do these things? We have an alternative model in Sophistan.
Link to the article: thebaffler.com/latest/speaking-ills-semley
Link to the article: thebaffler.com/latest/speaking-ills-semley
Nov 05, 201840:16
Episode 4: No Such Thing as a Debate Expert
A Plea from the Education Minister to consider election debates differently. Stop judging election debates based on logic, Reason, or facts. Start evaluating debates as the rich performances they are. Considering election debates as performances to evaluate helps us achieve the type of thoughtful government we actually want.
Nov 01, 201826:30
Episode 3: Do Congressional Election Debates Matter? The Sophistic View from the C-SPAN Conference
The Education Minister reflects on the recent C-SPAN Center for Scholarship and Engagement conference at Purdue University. It was a fantastic conference, and the Minister has a lot of thoughts!
Also hear a live recording of the Minister addressing the conference on the question, "How Do We Evaluate Congressional Election Debates?"
Also hear a live recording of the Minister addressing the conference on the question, "How Do We Evaluate Congressional Election Debates?"
Oct 24, 201841:28
Episode 2: The Trouble with Toulmin
In Response to Listener Questions, the Minister of Education argues for the Trouble with the Toulmin model, and suggests some useful alternatives for teaching debate and argumentation.
Oct 14, 201836:50
Episode 1: What is Debate Good For? The Sophistan View
In the first episode, we discuss recent calls for debate-centered education, augmenting them with a sophistic view. Analysis of Wayne Brockriede's 1975 essay "Where is Argument?" helps to broaden understanding of what arguments are and what they could be.
Oct 08, 201828:51