David Fott (Political Science) published "Philosophy, Politics, and Rhetoric in Cicero's On the Orator" in the latest issue of Interpretation: A Journal of Political Philosophy. Several scholars maintain that Cicero regards philosophy and rhetoric as coexisting in ultimate harmony. Fott argues instead that Cicero subtly demonstrates that their purposes are at odds with each other. Cicero is bringing to the reader's attention the difficulties involved in combining the quest for wisdom with the pursuit of rhetorical excellence.
