In his Apology, Plato goes to great lengths to vindicate his mentor and distinguish him from other disreputable orators of the time. In contrast to the Sophist, Socrates denies ever taking money from those that he has conversed with, cites examples of loyalty and bravery to his city, and claims that he has “never promised to teach…anything and [has] not done so (33b).” Crucial to Socrates' proclamation of innocence is his claim to know nothing, making him, in accordance with the declaration of the Oracle of Delphi, the wisest of men.
[...] The difference between the philosophy of Socrates and the rhetoric of the Sophists is the ultimate goal of their speech. As discussed earlier, the Sophists, who believed that persuasion presented a greater benefit than adhering to a necessarily relative earthly morality, were concerned only with winning arguments rather than questioning the truth or rationality behind them. Socrates' objection to this belief is illustrated in his interaction with Polus in Gorgias when the topic of oratory is specifically addressed. Classifying oratory as a Socrates provides the following definition: takes no thought at all of whatever is best; with the lure of what's most pleasant at the moment, it sniffs out folly and hoodwinks it, so that it gives the impression of being most deserving” (464 c-d). [...]
[...] While it should be acknowledged that there is great potential for misuse in rhetoric that has no grounding in morality, the benefits of the Socratic alternative are far from clear. Works Cited Bett, Richard. "Gorgias." 25 Feb Lecture. Cohen, S. Marc et al. (eds.). Readings in Ancient Greek Philosophy: From Thales to Aristotle, pp. 15-41 MACROBUTTON HTMLDirect Grube, G.M.A. "Apology." Plato Complete Works. Cambridge 1997: Hackett Company. 17-36. Print. MACROBUTTON HTMLDirect [...]
[...] While the aporetic nature of Plato's dialogues may seem to return the participants to their original positions, it is the discomfort with and the questioning of knowledge that Socrates is aiming to produce in his discourses.[8] Convincing others to radically change their notions of justice and rationality may be the eventual goal, but planting seeds of doubt can also be considered progress. The idea of discomfort recalls Socrates comparing himself to a gadfly in the Apology. Socrates, in challenging men to release their false knowledge and to care for their souls, claims, never cease to rouse each and every one of you, to persuade and reproach you all day long and everywhere I find myself in your company. [...]
[...] Although a clear definition of the good and how to achieve it are not provided in Plato's early dialogues, it is apparent that Socrates considers the pursuit of this knowledge to be the supreme human activity and the means by which a man can take care of his soul.[6] Other details of this dialogue provide insight into additional facets of Socrates' notion of justice. Socrates refers to himself as the only “true politician” due to his knowledge of what is good for the soul. [...]
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