"Gorgias"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how in Plato's philosophical work entitled "Gorgias," the philosopher's criticism of the method of rhetoric as a form of persuasion is the primary focus of Plato's written work. It shows how in the said philosophical and ethical discourse, Plato uses the character of Socrates as the voice or transmitter of the message that Plato wants to extend to his readers/audience. It shows how there is much evidence wherein Plato illustrates his disagreement with the rhetorical methods of persuasion, although he categorizes his disagreements with various issues where rhetorical methods are usually used.

From the Paper:

"In the same manner, the political institution and legal aspects of political governance is also another realm wherein Plato illustrates rhetoric as a faulty method of persuasion, and, in effect, information transmission and influencing other people with certain beliefs the speaker subsists to. Political governance is one crucial aspect wherein rhetoric is heavily used, especially in a courtroom scenario, which was cited at the initial and later part of Plato's "Gorgias." In the initial part of "Gorgias," Gorgias remarked that rhetoric is a method of persuasion wherein persuasion is the primary consideration, "but not about (the determination and identification) right and wrong." Also, in the latter part of work, Socrates is quoted as saying that rhetoric is crucial if applied in the realm of political governance because there is a possibility that a good rhetoric may be the way wherein an individual can be
"sentenced to death." "

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• Analytical Essay # 16197 : "Gorgias"
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