Between Rhetoric and Sophistry: The Puzzling Case of Plato’s Gorgias (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between sophistry and rhetoric? ›

Whereas rhetoric aims to mimic justice, sophistry imitates legislation.

In the dialogue Gorgias, Plato (through his mentor Socrates) expresses his contempt for sophistical rhetoric; all rhetoric is "a phantom of a branch of statesmanship (463d) ...a kind of flattery ...that is contemptible," because its aim is simply pleasure rather than the welfare of the public.

The philosophical problem of the nature of sophistry is arguably even more formidable. Due in large part to the influence of Plato and Aristotle, the term sophistry has come to signify the deliberate use of fallacious reasoning, intellectual charlatanism and moral unscrupulousness.

Gorgias begins his argument by presenting a logical contradiction, “if the nonexistent exists, it will both exist and not exist at the same time” (B3. 67) (a violation of the principle of non-contradiction). He then denies that existence (to on) itself exists, for if it exists, it is either eternal or generated.

Plato criticized the Sophists for various reasons, such as their use of exaggerations and taking money. The sophisticated rhetoricians sought to sway public opinion in their favor, and true justice is founded on the knowledge of the individual and the state.

An example of sophistry is the argument that cutting people is a crime, and since doctors cut people open, doctors commit crimes. This is the sophistry of the irrelevant conclusion.

Plato argued in his Gorgias that rhetoric could not be an art (technê), since it is not related to a definite subject, while real arts are defined by their specific subjects, as e.g. medicine or shoemaking are defined by their products (health and shoes).

Analysis Of Plato's Allegory Of The Cave

In here, Plato uses the writing style of allegory to encompass the use of imagery and symbolism to explain his purpose. He also uses very clever dialogue with constant repetition to represent a bigger idea about the philosophy with chained up people living in a cave of shadows.

Aristotle separated rhetoric from poetics, treating rhetoric as the art of persuasion and poetics as the art of imitation or representation.

Gorgias (/ˈɡɔːrdʒiəs/; Greek: Γοργίας; 483–375 BC) was an ancient Greek sophist, pre-Socratic philosopher, and rhetorician who was a native of Leontinoi in Sicily. Along with Protagoras, he forms the first generation of Sophists.

What did the Sophists believe? ›

They believed and taught that "might makes right". They were pragmatists trusting in whatever works to bring about the desired end at whatever the cost. They made a business of their own form of education as developing skills in rhetoric and profited from it.

Plato argues that philosopher kings should be the rulers, as all philosophers aim to discover the ideal polis. The 'kallipolis', or the beautiful city, is a just city where political rule depends on knowledge, which philosopher kings possess, and not power.

In the Gorgias, Socrates argues that just punishment, though painful, benefits the unjust person by removing injustice from her soul.

Gorgias proposed absolute nihilism. The three cardinal propositions of this doctrine are the following: (1) Nothing exists; (2) If there were anything, then it could not be known; (3) Even if there were knowledge of being, this knowledge could not be imparted.

In Plutarch's work on Gorgias specifically, an original fragment of Gorgias's writing is preserved. It is said that “tragedy is a deception that leaves the deceived wiser than the non-deceived.” This is exactly the kind of literary style to expect from a sophist.

Rhetoric is speaking or writing that's intended to persuade. If your goal is to write editorial columns for the New York Times, you should work on your rhetoric. Rhetoric comes from the Greek meaning "speaker" and is used for the art of persuasive speaking or writing.

Modern usage. In modern usage, sophism, sophist, and sophistry are used disparagingly. A sophism, or sophistry, is a fallacious argument, especially one used deliberately to deceive. A sophist is a person who reasons with clever but fallacious and deceptive arguments.

Aristotle's differentiation suggests that one can employ rhetoric without being a Sophist. Rhetoric, as he conceives it, is a neutral tool or skill that can be used for different purposes. It can be used for ethical and just persuasion when employed by a rhetorician who values the truth and ethical principles.