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Rhetoric and Democracy
Term Paper # 108453
Rhetoric and Democracy
An analysis of Plato's views of rhetoric and democracy and how they apply to modern day politics.
1,517 words (approx. 6.1 pages) |
2 sources |
MLA | 2008
Paper Summary:
This paper discusses the danger of rhetoric to a democracy. The paper looks at Socrates' four arguments and Plato's view of false rhetoric in order to understand just how prone democracy is to corruption. It then discusses the concepts within the context of an external political structure and discusses how it applies to modern day politics.From the Paper:
"Plato's argument against rhetoric is not all encompassing. Clearly, when used to explain a difficult philosophical position to others, rhetoric is the only real method that can be employed. But, it is just as easily corrupted to be used to soothe the egos of despots and the conceited. Rhetoric can be used to convince people that two plus two is five (a la George Orwell), because if the argument sounds reasonable enough, people can be convinced of just about anything. Thus, our democratic process is not a true election of the best person for the job, but an election of the best rhetoricians - liars by trade."Sample of Sources Used:
- Plato. The Republic. New York: Penguin Classics, 2003.
- Gordon, James L. The Rhetoric of Western Thought: From the Mediteranean World to the Global, 7th Ed. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt, 2000.
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Cite this paper
APA Citation:
Rhetoric and Democracy (2012, January 15). Retrieved February 12, 2012, from http://www.academon.com/Term-Paper-Rhetoric-and-Democracy/108453
MLA Citation:
"Rhetoric and Democracy" 15 January 2012. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <http://www.academon.com/Term-Paper-Rhetoric-and-Democracy/108453>
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