Gorgias is a conversation between Socrates and four other citizens. In our previous class discussion it was based on the guiding question, what is the essential nature of rhetoric. Is it the study of words? Is personal freedom, mastery over others, order of social and political systems outcomes because of rhetoric? Socrates questions Gorgias about the extent and nature of rhetoric. Which then leads to questions about true vs false arts. In class, connections were made between art and rhetoric. Art is complex and filled with emotion. It’s a creation formed by thoughts, imagination and skill. It is a form of expression. On the other hand, would a piece of art work have the same meaning to you as it did to the artist. Are you able to see the vision, the story the artist had when creating an art piece. Perception was a subject we discussed in class that can be connected to Gorgias and Rhetoric. Just like the saying, If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Did it really happen, does it really exist? If you never knew what defines rhetoric, can rhetoric really be art, or music, or emotions and thoughts? Would there be justice if you didn’t have knowledge of the laws. In Gorgias, they bring up points like right vs wrong, true essence of power, good existing vs pleasant. Of course you can go back and forth and make a case for each side. But is it really going to matter, or exist in your world if you don’t perceive the other side of the argument the way someone else does. Perception is reality.
Plato- Gorgias
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