Plato's Gorgias

Plato's Gorgias is a conversation between the three main actors. The first and undeniable leader and architect of the conversation, Socrates. The other two are Gorgias and Polus, with them trading off who is speaking with Socrates. Mainly, Gorgias answers the first half of the discourse, while Polus answers the second half.

Socrates, Polus, and Gorgias walk into a bar, the bartender says, "what is this supposed to be a joke?"

The answer is no, its not a joke, and its not a bar. Its Socrates luring Gorgias and Polus into an argument where Socrates uses 'the Socratic method' to his advantage. Basically, he asks loads of questions that illicit short responses in order to get Gorgias and Polus to contradict themselves.

Gorgias attempts to define rhetoric and also explore what rhetoricians try to accomplish. Interestingly enough, Socrates says that rhetoric is the "artificer of a persuasion which creates belief about the just and unjust, but gives no instruction about them". Interesting because, this quotation from Gorgias relates directly back to Socrates apology where Socrates says, "I am the wisest for I know that I know nothing" (or something close to that effect). The excerpt from Gorgias which says that rhetoric "is the artificer..." submits that there is knowledge, and there is the belief of knowledge. Socrates asserts that the belief of knowledge is what rhetoric mainly deals with. The idea that people are generally unwise because they think they know everything is a common theme for Socrates.

This however does not mean that rhetoric is unjust or malicious. For instance, a rhetoric instructor could use his or her knowledge to show a student why a topic for a paper might be a good or bad idea. Their expertise in this case is used to persuade the student proving to be what is ultimately a good deed.

Of course there is another side to rhetoric. As briefly discussed in the encomium of Helen, rhetoric is "a powerful lord...." and could be used by an individual to advance his or her interests which may be just or unjust. In the case of advancing unjust interests, rhetoric becomes harmful.

As for rhetoric being an art, I think it is hard to dispute (despite Socrates' arguments). If one has the ability to use rhetoric for overall good then why cheapen it to mere 'flattery'.