Precepts of Reflective Public Relations: An Isocratean Model

The reflective paradigm, an emerging philosophy of public relations, involves an organization's “production of self-understanding in relation to the environment,” (Holmström, 2004 Holmström , S. ( 2004 ). Intermezzo: The reflective paradigm of public relations . In B. van Ruler & D. Vercic (Eds.), Public relations and communication management in Europe (pp. 121 – 133 ). New York : Mouton de Gruyter . Google Scholar], p. 126). An instructive antecedent of reflection may lie in the works of Isocrates (436–338 BCE), who has gained increasing scholarly recognition as a progenitor of modern public relations. As Isocrates sought to strengthen Athens via a unified Greece, he promoted panhellenism over the narrower interests of individual Greek city-states. In highly self-analytical addresses to Greek leaders, he advocated, in words and deeds, specific precepts of nascent reflection, including conducting thorough research on a diverse society and the encouragement of dissent.