Rhetorical Analysis Of Socrates s Gorgias - 855 Words

In Gorgias by Plato, Socrates questions and stands his ground on the disadvantages of Rhetoric. Like Socrates, I believe that Rhetoric is a progressive form of language used to enhance one’s self by convincing others of their perspective and gain something in return for it, and that it shouldn’t be used because Rhetoric is dangerous to use to any person who could potentially use it for the wrong purpose. Socrates believes that rhetoric is a branch of flattery (Plato 27). Socrates makes it known that Rhetoric is not something anybody should use because it would turn that person evil. He goes on to discuss about how every action that one person does, has an â€Å"equal and opposite reaction† to the rest of the universe (Plato 42). And with that, in our class discussion, Taylor mentions a game that just recently came out where any little thing you do can kill or save someone else in the game. Callicles and Gorgias have their own opinion of what rhetoric is, and both of theirs are somewhat similar. For Socrates, his definition differs as he says, â€Å"Well then, to me, Gorgias, rhetoric seems not to be an artistic pursuit at all, but that of a shrewd, courageous spirit which is naturally clever at dealing with men; and I call the chief part of it flattery (Plato 23).† Socrates makes this statement to explain that rhetoric is not a profession of any sort; rhetoric is just the praise and complimenting of men to get them to do something. Which I feel as though would work only on those