In this weeks reading, I pointed out the differences in dialogues between Plato’s: Gorgias, Phaedrus, and Sophists and Protagoras.

Plato’s arguments are stemmed at the sophist but he builds a case against anyone that claims to make a living by persuading audiences. Gorgias comes from the drama originated around Socrates. Plato’s main argument against the sophists is that “Rhetoric doesn’t embody the concept of justice and it is dangerous”.

Protagoras believes in relativism, which changes per experience. Relative truth is often seen as our perception making us question whether something exits. We create our own truths based on the world around us.

Isocrates says that rhetoric is not just a skill because because it can be taught, but it’s the creative act as well. These are the same acts that are to be used in the real world, such as in the Polis. Language is also an important variable, the better the language the more it shapes reality. Individuals can too change it as well by creating good citizens, this means to be active and engaged.

Finally you have the sophists, they claim to teach arête, which is virtue. This is something Plato strongly disagrees with. He says this is a characteristic you’re born with. However, Socrates says, with proper education you can learn to live virtuously.