Poulakos received his MA from California State University, San Jose in 1972 with a thesis "Toward an existential theory of dialogue".
His publications have promoted the work and importance of the Sophists in Ancient Greece, who were often overlooked due to Plato's harsh criticism.
Poulakos says that sophistry, as a rhetorical era, has been bogged down by philosophers like Plato, and deserves more respect and contemporary appreciation.
[5] Poulakos' main concern is that the importance in sophistic discourse can be broken down into five different points: rhetoric is an art, style can be used as personal expression, kairos, which is the opportune moment, to prepon, also known as the appropriate moment, and to dynaton, meaning "the possible.
"[5] Sophistry has influenced three modern rhetorical practices: the logic of circumstances, the ethic of competition, and the aesthetic of exhibition.