Gorgias Questions

Hello,

  1. In my opinion, Gorgias embraces the sophistic philosophy because, as the reading states, his speeches and discussions not only challenged the audience mentally, but it roused them emotionally. It pushed them to participate, and that is what rhetoric and democracy is all about. Furthermore, he thought it was our duty and right as citizens to question things, furthering the idea of discussion, debate, and democracy.
  2. For my own definition, Gorgias affirms much of it, yet the idea of it being a duty to refute something through normos, observing Dissoi Logoi, and forming an antithesis was new to me. It makes sense however, when you apply this thought process to a democracy, which functions off its people’s voice.
  3. I believe that Gorgias, through his defense of Helen, is conveying to us, and at the same time backing up Protagoras, that every argument one, matters, and two, has multiple sides to it. However, he also is pointing out that we may never truly be able to know whether something is true or real, but we must discuss it anyway.

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