Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Socrates Question
So, while reading this piece, the entire time, it was very apparent that Socrates is an incredible rhetorician. He bested Gorgias many times during the course of the discussion, even though many swore that Gorgias was a master of his craft and the greatest rhetorician that could ever be... Blah, blah, blah. Socrates obviously provides a very convincing argument against rhetoric, but he uses rhetoric very well in order to provide his argument. The entire time I read this piece, I had a very hard time following Socrates' argument because it feels hypocritical to me. Why should I believe that rhetoric is always bad and manipulative and questionable ethically when Socrates provides a beautiful example of rhetoric in this piece?
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I felt like Socrates was being a little hypocritical too and would also agree that he showed he was just as good as a rhetorician as Gorgias, however, that is partly why I feel (at this point)rhetroic is mostly questionable and sometimes unethical. Socrates was participating in the same game that Gorgias partakes in. He had to instigate it in order to bring out some of the 'truths' and concerns, but I'm not convinced he could have done it more honestly. Is there no way around the negative connotations of rhetoric when it comes to argument?
ReplyDeleteSocrates really knows his stuff, reminds me of listening to a lawyer at times. It does get confusing, because it seems to me he talks in circles. But, answering a question with a question isn't really impressive to me. I wonder if Gorgias just threw up his arms and walked away from the discussion. Thats why I could never run for office....the debates get to the point where I would feel I was banging my head on a wall.
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