具体描述
A comprehensive study of “one of the most elusive and subtle” of all the Platonic dialogues.
The Gorgias begins with a discussion of the nature and value of rhetoric and develops into an impassioned argument for the primacy of absolute right (as expressed by conscience) in the regulation of both public and private life. Plochmann and Robinson closely analyze this great dialogue in the first two-thirds of their book, turning in the final four chapters to a broader discussion of its unity, sweep, and philosophic implications.
Plato's Gorgias: A Journey into the Heart of Rhetoric and Justice Plato’s Gorgias stands as a potent testament to the enduring power of philosophical inquiry, delving deep into the nature of rhetoric, justice, and the pursuit of the good life. This seminal dialogue, featuring Socrates as the central interrogator, confronts the prevailing sophistry of its time, challenging the efficacy and morality of persuasive speech divorced from truth and genuine knowledge. Through a series of rigorous cross-examinations, Plato masterfully unpacks the claims of Gorgias, the celebrated rhetorician, and his eloquent disciples, Polus and Callicles, revealing the superficiality of their art and the potentially corrosive impact it can have on the soul and society. The dialogue opens with Socrates’ eager anticipation of meeting Gorgias, a master of public speaking who has arrived in Athens promising to teach the art of persuasion. Gorgias, confident in his abilities, asserts that rhetoric is the most powerful art, capable of persuading any audience on any subject. He claims it grants its practitioners influence and control, enabling them to achieve their desires in public life. This initial assertion immediately sets the stage for Socrates' characteristic probing, seeking to define the precise nature and scope of this supposedly supreme art. Socrates, with his characteristic patience and intellectual rigor, begins to dismantle Gorgias’ claims. He questions whether rhetoric is truly an art or merely a knack, a form of flattery akin to cookery or cosmetics. He argues that rhetoric, in its common practice, deals with opinions rather than knowledge, and its aim is pleasure rather than the good. For Socrates, true arts aim at the well-being of the soul and body, and rhetoric, when divorced from truth and justice, risks corrupting the soul by prioritizing superficial persuasion over genuine understanding and moral rectitude. The conversation then shifts to Gorgias’ young and ambitious disciple, Polus. Polus, eager to defend his master, enters the fray, accusing Socrates of misrepresenting rhetoric. Polus proudly declares that the rhetorician, by persuading others, is actually more powerful than anyone else, for they can influence kings and citizens alike, escaping punishment for their deeds. He boasts that injustice, when unpunished, is a good thing, and justice, even when suffered, is a bad thing. This statement provides Socrates with a critical opening to explore the relationship between power, justice, and happiness. Socrates, through his relentless questioning, argues that true power lies not in the ability to do whatever one desires, but in the ability to do what is good. He contends that those who act unjustly are themselves the most miserable, for their souls are corrupted, leading to a state of inner disharmony and suffering. He posits that it is far better to suffer injustice than to commit it, as suffering injustice allows the soul to remain uncorrupted, while committing injustice leads to a diseased and disordered soul. This provocative assertion challenges the conventional understanding of justice and power, suggesting that external success is meaningless if it comes at the cost of inner integrity. The final and perhaps most formidable interlocutor is Callicles, a man of strong convictions and a keen intellect, who openly champions the “natural” law of the strong ruling the weak. Callicles dismisses Socrates’ notions of justice as sentimental and unnatural, arguing that in the natural order of things, the superior individual has a right to dominate those who are weaker. He asserts that the pursuit of pleasure and the satisfaction of one's desires, unrestrained by conventional morality, is the true path to happiness and fulfillment. He views justice and conventional morality as mere constructs designed by the weak to restrain the strong. Socrates confronts Callicles’ naturalistic argument with a profound exploration of the soul. He argues that the soul, like the body, can be healthy or diseased. A just soul is a harmonious and ordered soul, where reason governs the appetites and emotions. An unjust soul, conversely, is one in which the appetites are unchecked, leading to a state of perpetual craving and inner turmoil. Socrates contends that the rhetorician, by pandering to the desires of the masses and enabling them to act upon their basest impulses, ultimately contributes to the corruption of souls, both of individuals and the polis. The dialogue culminates in Socrates’ powerful defense of philosophy and the pursuit of truth, even in the face of social disapproval and potential harm. He contrasts the life of the philosopher, dedicated to understanding and the cultivation of virtue, with the life of the rhetorician, focused on superficial persuasion and the pursuit of power and pleasure. Socrates argues that true happiness comes from cultivating a just and virtuous soul, and that philosophy is the most effective means to achieve this end. He concludes that the examined life, lived in accordance with reason and justice, is the only life worth living, and that the judgment of one's own soul is far more important than the judgment of the crowd. Plato’s Gorgias is more than just a critique of rhetoric; it is a profound exploration of fundamental questions about human existence. It probes the nature of knowledge and belief, the relationship between power and morality, and the ultimate source of human happiness. The dialogue serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of critical thinking, intellectual honesty, and the pursuit of virtue, urging readers to question the prevailing assumptions of their time and to strive for a life grounded in truth and justice. It is a powerful testament to the enduring relevance of Socratic inquiry, inviting us to engage in our own dialogues and to seek a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
