Socrates A Good Statesman Analysis
In Plato's Gorgias, it is apparent that Socrates has no desire to be a good statesman as it is defined in the eyes of the Athenians. His calculation is that Athenian rhetoricians place no reliance on facts or truth, nor are these their aim. Instead, they rely on the illusion of knowledge, and this morally weakens both themselves and their audiences. It is clear however, that if he wishes, Socrates is able to match most or all of the other statesmen in Athens, as is clearly indicated by his very eloquent speech which ends the dialogue. Additionally, under his own definition of a good statesman, it is evident that Socrates is more than qualified. Through discussion, he is able to conclude that a statesman should be concerned solely with truth …show more content…
The following statement by Gorgias, for instance, is maintained throughout the dialogue: "The rhetorician is capable of speaking against everyone else and on any subject you please in such a way that he can win over vast multitudes to anything, in a word, that he may desire." Plato, p. 16 Socrates addresses this in the discussion with Polus about happiness and proves again the injustice of rhetoricians. The men conclude together that the happiest man is without vice, "the greatest of evils," Plato p. 45, and the "…second happiest… is he who gets rid of it… And he… is the man who is rebuked and admonished and brought to justice." Plato, p. 46 The argument then leads to the understanding that men with vice realize this painful aspect of justice and are blind to its good impact on the soul. They cannot therefore, be happy. In fact, states Socrates: "…a man who is not brought to justice is more wretched than one who is." Plato, p. 47 Therefore, rhetoricians use persuasive speaking to avoid being brought to justice for their vices. Their "power" then, really lies in their ability to dodge pain with flashy persuasions which mask their vices. Since power is later defined as "…something good to the man who yields it," Plato, p. 27 it follows that rhetoricians cannot be truly powerful because they hide from justice and use falsehoods to do
What Does Rhetoric Mean In Chapter 6 Of The Blugold Guide
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368 Words | 2 PagesRhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. In “A Speech in the Virginia Convention,” Patrick Henry tries to convince his fellow colonists to fight with Great Britain. Through his speech, he claims that the colonists shouldn’t be controlled by the Great Britain. According to Patrick Henry, the colonist need to fight back against Great Britain for their freedom. Patrick Henry uses appeals and rhetorical techniques to convince his fellow colonists to go to war with Great Britain.
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Examples Of Rhetoric's Numberless Possibilities
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Euthyphro And Socrates Analysis
1226 Words | 5 PagesIn the discourse of Socrates and Euthyphro, I find the exchange quite daunting because Socrates does most of the talking and therefore he is inclined to be leading. This brings me to question how a discourse should really be done. It has been disheartening to follow the train of thought of a well-known and highly respected philosopher because although it may have seemed that Socrates encouraged Euthyphro to speak his mind, he actually seems not to have given him the same space and time to explain and expound in his own words what he tried to communicate with the initial claims he made. In fact, it seems that Socrates has developed a unique, rhetorically powerful strategy to
Gorgias By Socrates Rhetoric Essay
1090 Words | 5 PagesCallicles believes that the naturally strong can do at they wish because they are able to get away with it (484a-b). Socrates refutes these claims by saying that the stronger are the mightier and the mightiest are the many (488c-d). Meaning that the stronger are the ones that make the laws so by nature the strongest are the ones that make convention (488e). Rhetoric has the lowest power, the flattery used in rhetoric is to persuade people, this persuasion only works if most people believe it to work. Without ignorant people a rhetorician would be
Socrates And Martin Luther King Jr.: Literary Analysis
1522 Words | 7 PagesThroughout the course of history the written word has been very influential to the thought process of mankind. Through this time we have seen an innumerable amount of authors that have had large impacts on the thought process of society as a whole. Three authors that have impacted the thought process of mankind during their time have been Socrates and his thoughts on humanism, Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger with their idea of gender roles, and lastly, Martin Luther King Jr. with his ideas on “the other” and racial equality. Each of these authors used methods in order to support the point that they wanted to convey. Although each author discusses different topics, they can all be tied together in one distinct way, which is the methods that they used to convince others of their beliefs.
Socrates Should Stay In Prison Analysis
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1756 Words | 8 PagesToday virtually every child grows up learning that the Earth orbits the Sun, but four centuries ago the heliocentric solar system, where the Earth orbits the Sun, was so controversial that the Catholic Church classified it as a crime of heresy (UCLA). In the age of early philosophy, Socrates’ is well known. Between the Socratic method and his line of successful students, Socrates’ makes the history books. Galileo Galilei turned astronomers on their heads when he discovered moons around Jupiter. Giordano Bruno didn’t back down from any of his brilliant and different ideas.
Comparing Socrates In The Apology, Crito, And The Republic
802 Words | 4 PagesComparing Socrates words in the Republic for the philosopher to rule to the words of the Apology where philosophy is viewed as something that is punishable by death, this is where the defense or importance of philosophy is realized. For if the philosophers were the ones to rule, nobody would question whether or not what they were doing was right or wrong because the philosopher-kings make the rules through wisdom and knowledge. Plato wants to paint a portrait of the philosopher as not only something the city should want to have, but also as someone who would be fit to rule above all others. This contrasts, again, to the points made by the jurors to Socrates in the Apology for they saw Socrates as someone who brings the city
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1095 Words | 5 PagesRhetoric is an incredibly powerful tool capable of seducing even the most obdurate of people. As one of the most illustrious playwrights ever, Shakespeare was no stranger to the power of rhetoric. Rhetoric served as the fountainhead of Shakespearian allure. We watch the dramatic works of Shakespeare because we enjoy having our emotions manipulated; we enjoy the catharsis and self-reflection that accompanies a trip to the theater. Shakespeare truly was a master manipulator, but his manipulation was generally beneficial.
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732 Words | 3 PagesHe uses the example of ruling a city, where a government would change the rules and laws to best suit them, and as the rules are followed by those who act justly, the just would be acting in the favour of the stronger. Socrates objects to this and claims that humans will make mistake, as that is part of being human, and may
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