The Nature of Rhetoric

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the nature of rhetoric. It is a creative writing piece that is written in the form of a play. The play presents fictional interpretative characters (Plato, Isocrates and Gorgias) who are created entirely out of their true philosophies from their various works. The play presents a case against a public high school teacher who is on trial for "corrupting the youth" by teaching about the theory of evolution.

Table of Contents:
Act One
Scene I
Scene II
Act Two
Scene One
Act Two
Scene II

From the Paper:

"Ghost of Gorgias: Isocrates! Where in the world have you taken us now? I knew I should have never trusted you after that rather hostile tirade, "Against the Sophists.""
"Ghost of Isocrates: Gorgias, you are disgustingly self-absorbed. Can't you see this poor girl desperately needs our help? She's on trial for "corrupting the youth;" sound familiar, anyone? (Glances at Socrates, whose attention is immediately captured.) Over 2,000 years after we're dead and they're still fighting the same battle. Figures. Apparently she went against academic protocol and (gasp) informed him students about an alternative to the creation myth that was driven into their oblivious little minds since before they could speak. How unfortunate that this state's tax base is uniformly fundamental Christian; they refuse to fund public education that perpetuates anything slightly contradictory to their beliefs. "So inimical to all the world is this race of sycophants that when men spend any amount, however small upon their education, they complain that they are being corrupted. Could any charge be more unjust?" Any threat to their power structure, regardless of truth or moral consideration, is corrupt. Men, it's time to change the course of things. The future of education is about to rerouted. This our chance! If John is acquitted of these contrived charges, this trial will make history! The world will have engaged in intense rhetoric to reconcile the implications of the separation of church and state. Government will have to be restructured; true democracy will finally prevail! How thrilling, rhetoric will at last be a means to peace and perfectly noble service to the state! Gentlemen, this is kairos at its finest. We are here because this is the right time, the right place, and the right philosophy. Our task is clear: we must inculcate our civic virtue, our knowledge of rhetoric and persuasion, into John so that justice will prevail!"
"Ghost of Plato: Of course! If she can unite philosophy with skillfully employed rhetoric, she will be invincible! Wait.... how do we know if she is interested in good for all mankind? Is his cause truly a noble one? What do we really know? Before we teach him rhetoric, we must make sure she will use it for good and not to deceive anyone. We must never forget the inherent duality in rhetoric: it can be used equally for good and evil. What if she is in this for fame, or for money? We need to discover the nature of his cause before we teach him anything, agreed?"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Aristotle. Rhetoric.
• Butler. United States. Cong. Public Acts of the State of Tennessee: Chapter No. 27; House Bill No. 185. 64th Cong. 21 Mar. 1925. 7 Dec. 2005 <http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/tennstat.htm>.
• Isocrates. Antidosis.
• Isocrates Against the Sophists.
• Plato. Apology.

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