Plato

Socrates is obsessed with the idea of justice, especially as it pertains to knowledge. In the Gorgias, justice is discussed as it pertains to oratory as well as what constitutes greater injustice, committing or suffering, and punishment and justice. In the first argument, Socrates engages Gorgias in a discussion of justice and teaching right and wrong when teaching oratory. Because a good orator should be able to convince people who do not know something that he does and he is right, the potentiality for injustice is great. At the conclusion of the entire dialogue Socrates finds oratory to be a deplorable occupation because it does not, “…practice justice and the rest of excellence both in life and in death.” (113)

Gorgias’ disclaimer on justice in oratory triggers the debate. He points out what Socrates needs to prove that oratory is basically useless in society. In some circumstances Gorgias might compel one because he states that morality for morality’s sake is the backbone of justice in oratory. He argues that the art of oratory is itself just but that the individuals can use it unjustly if they choose. Gorgias also adds that just because of a few individuals who

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

Not unjust speeches but speeches which are made in an effort to convince people of something untrue or unjust.

Socrates’ method of argument is not only different but also opposed to Gorgias’ process.

Philosophy and rhetoric can be separated by their objectives. Discussion allows for ideas to be exchanged and for questions to be asked, answered and then new questions proposed. Nothing ever gets resolved and ultimately truth is not discovered because statements are not questioned. He talks about how an orator could be appointed by an assembly to a post that he is less qualified simply because he has the power of persuasion. Socrates shows Gorgias that he is wrong by showing that he has crossed himself in proving, logically, that it is impossible for oratory to be used unjustly and then comparing that proof to Gorgias’ statements about injustice and the individual. Rhetoric is only bad because of the lack of limitation on the powers of the orator. More importantly philosophy utilizes discussion of ideas and statements open to question to find the truth. Philosophy was proven here to be more effective and more informative than oratory.

Socrates is clearly the winner in this debate. Philosophy on the other hand is clear and questioned to the end. Socrates does not really argue so much as point out Gorgias’ mistake. Gorgias and the sophists, Callicles and Polus, are not subject to right and wrong, in a way, because all they have to do is convince a majority of the people that what they say is the truth. Oratory is made up of well thought out declarative statements.

Approximate Word count = 1027
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.