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Gorgias

            
             Most of the works of Socrates do not appeal to my interest, but Gorgias was different. The conversation between the four men involved is very interesting, and at some times very powerful. A person would almost get the sense that they do not like each other. There is not so much friction between Gorgias and Socrates, however, Polus and Callicles get into some very heated discussion. The arguments within this work range in style and process. Gorgias, being older and more wise does not get as worked up as his younger peers. Polus and Callicles are both young and ready to prove themselves. The main ideas of the arguments are simple. Polus argues with Socrates about which is the greater evil, to do wrong or to suffer wrong. Callicles argues that strength and power determine what is right and wrong. Another theme dealt with in this work is the question, "What is true happiness?". Is true happiness having money and power. Is it being well educated and well-known. These topics are discussed thoroughly.
             The story begins with Gorgias and Socrates discussing what oratory is. Gorgias is very well-known and respected for his skills. Socrates is well-known and respected as well, which makes for a "wise guy" shoot out. Gorgias believes oratory to be an art form. A skill that is one of the most powerful and sought after skills a person could have. Socrates believes the exact opposite. Socrates believes that oratory is more along the lines of a knack or learned behavior. He even uses the term "pandering" to describe the process.
             The argument between Polus and Socrates is a thought provoking one. Which is the greater evil, to do wrong or suffer wrong? Socrates believes that it is better to suffer wrong than do wrong. He believes that by doing wrong you are sentencing yourself to eternal punishment. That if you punish someone for their sins in this life, then their will be no punishment in the after life.


Essays Related to Gorgias

1. Gorgias

Gorgias For thousands of years, theologians have debated the idea of the eternal soul, something that separates from the body after death and goes on to exist in whatever comes next, whether it is heaven or anything else. Socrates, living hundreds of years before the Common Era, discusses the idea of a soul with the early orators of Athens, such as Callicles, Gorgias and Polus. ... Socrates is sick of orators like Callicles and Gorgias telling people exactly what they want to hear, and throwing dust in the eyes of councils of justice who hear them in the law courts. ... However, Callicles an...

  • Word Count: 978
  • Approx Pages: 4
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2. Plato

In 500c of the Gorgias, Socrates makes the defining statement that the "discussion is about the way we"re supposed to live" and therefore he enlightens the audience as to what Plato's main objective is in creating the Gorgias itself. ... Like most Sophists, Gorgias is not at all concerned with the truth of his propositions. ... Gorgias tells Socrates that the speeches used by oratory are about "the greats of human affairs and the best" (451d). ... Gorgias replies that it is persuasion. ... This is why Gorgias promises that he will teach his students about what is just and unjust. ...

  • Word Count: 2063
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3. Plato's Gorgias

In a conversation with Polus in Plato's Gorgias he outlines in full his argument that attempts to show that it is better to suffer wrong than to do wrong. ... To assess the argument between himself and Polus, Socrates begins the conversation that is located in Gorgias from pages 468-e to 479-e by asking Polus if tyrannical rule is in fact good by definition. ...

  • Word Count: 841
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4. The Grouch by the Greek Playwright, Menander

Sostratos and Gorgias, the half brother of Sostratos, rescues Knemon from the well. ... There was also love found between Gorgias and the sister of Sostratos conquering the inability of Gorgias to find love throughout his life. ... " (Rosivach 134) One must appreciate they way Sostratos reacts during the play because he in essence acts as a poor man and gains the respect of Knemon and Gorgias. However in the end he still is of the upper class and deserves the privileges that they are entitled which is why he gets the girl and ultimately allows Gorgia to marry into his class. ... As Luke ...

  • Word Count: 1947
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5. The Importance of Rhetoric and Education

Socrates in "Plato Gorgias" says, "And if anyone asks of us what sort of persuasion, and about what, - we shall answer, persuasion which teaches the quantity of odd and even" (483). Furthermore, Gorgias, a Sicilian rhetorician who was a successful Sophist in Athens (376–483 BCE), in a dialogue with Socrates, states that rhetoric is an art that is mostly used in courts of law and other assemblies about the just and unjust. (484). ... Socrates says, "Seeing, then, that not only rhetoric works by persuasion, but other arts do the same, as in the case of a painter&qu...

  • Word Count: 1140
  • Approx Pages: 5
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6. Plato

Plato was born in Athens, Greece in about 427 B.C (based on the Gregorian Calendar). Born into a family of aristocrats, Plato's father, Ariston, was said to have been a descendant of the royal kings of Athens. This might explain Plato's why as a young man, Plato's interest were in political leaders...

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7. Socrates In Comparison To The Sophists Theory Of Knowledge

Socrates" theory of knowledge as mentioned in his "Prayer to Pan" stated that wealth is knowledge. Knowledge is obtained through the dialectic method, which is the way to gain knowledge through a structured conversation. The sophists on the other hand did not have a finite definition of knowledge ...

  • Word Count: 550
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8. The Mind and Body Problem

Sophists Gorgia's asserts thats nothing exists because if it did exist we would never know it exists even if we did know it exists we could never express that it exists there for nothing exists. ...

  • Word Count: 616
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9. Hippocrates

Hippocrates was a Greek physician who helped transform medicine from a field ruled by magic, religion, and superstition to a scientific discipline. Hippocrates based his medical practice on the study of the human body and on objective observations. He believed a person's well being depended on the b...

  • Word Count: 821
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