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Charles Palandati

To what extent does P. Soc. reconcile himself with rhetoric? Why is this surprising? Or isn’t?

P. Soc concludes that rhetoric is used for determining the truth in things. The issue at hand becomes how to define truth. According to Plato, truth is only found in reason, rather than being observed; which means that rationale is objective, contrary to popular thought. In Plato’s mind people cannot be trusted to accurately decipher what they observe. Additionally, their perception is subject to disillusion.

These stances are not surprising based on the history of Plato’s dislike for the sophists. Even though Gorgias identified as a rhetorician, he would say truth cannot be known due to the limitations of language. Protagoras would respond to Plato by saying “man is the measure of all things”. In other words arguing that perception is reality, completely opposing Plato’s point of view.

The big question concerning sophists versus philosophers is whether or not there are absolutes or contingent truths. Furthermore, this debate is continued today in regards to religion versus science. Who is correct? Only rhetoric can determine that.