Plato's Philosophical Themes: Exploring Rhetoric, Virtue, and Power - Free Report Sample

In The Phaedrus and the Nature of Rhetoric, Weaver illustrates what Plato refers to as good. According to Weaver (3), language has the ability to move either towards the good or bad or fail to move us at all. Based on Plato's Phaedrus, any utterances made are assumptions of responsibilities, which is Phaedrus's biggest concern. Socrates meets Phaedrus outside the city, and Phaedrus is just from listening to a speech from Lysias. Phaedrus retells the speech to Socrates, and the speech is remarkable given that it urges people to favor non-lovers compared to lovers. Due to Socrates' dissatisfaction with the speech concerning the non-lover, he creates his own speech about love and terms the lover as an exploiter. After delivering the speech, Socrates is filled with guilt for saying untrue things. He, therefore, delivers another speech praising love as being divine. Each one of these utterances provides a metaphor for three types of discourses. The non-lover describes a metaphor for the language that does not move. The ideal of this impartial language is the lack of emotions or feelings (Weaver, 3). It illustrates a sober fidelity compared to that of a non-lover to the companion. Socrates' initial speech features an evil lover representing the discourse that moves people to the evil direction. Such is referred to as base rhetoric as it ends in exploitation. Base rhetoric always tries to keep the audience from any honest evaluation of alternatives, and it dreads the truth since it risks its alternatives. Lastly, Socrates' second speech talks about a noble fiance who represents the discourse that directs people towards whatever is good. The noble fiance does not show jealousy or selfishness towards the lover but strives to lead the lover to the ways of the god. This is the transformation where love changes from being exploitative to being creative. From this discussion, it should be noted that it is the noble lover who realizes the ethical and true potential of rhetoric. Plato argues that if the truth is not persuasive enough, the art of rhetoric can be used to advance persuasiveness. Truth cannot be justified by logic alone but can be valued when referenced as being good. Rhetoric, therefore, merges action and understanding into one that is bigger compared to the scientific perception. It seeks to make its audience perfect by exhibiting them their better versions. A good soul is nourished by knowledge and intelligence of the actual things that are happening (Weaver, 5). A good soul is also that which sees reality and delights in it since it keeps memories. Unlike in Plato's time, a good soul is one who is not afraid of expressing emotions. A good soul in today's world opens up for people to read and understand their emotions. Additionally, a good soul is associated with a fragile heart where it trusts people with love and when it gets hurt, it takes much time to heal.

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In Gorgias, Socrates is skeptical about the art of persuading people in assemblies and courts concerning what may be regarded as right or good. Gorgias gets into controversy when he accepts that a greater orator should understand their most particular subjects (Bizzel and Hertzberg, 794). Polus, on the other hand, asserts that rhetoric gives one the authority to do what they please, including injustices if they fit the circumstances. Socrates argues that it is better to suffer injustices than to perpetuate them. Socrates adopts the concepts of irrational wants such as that of Republic IV. While in Phaedrus, Socrates supports the use of rhetoric and even praises its importance in advancing the truth. However, Socrates denounces his own words in Gorgias illustrating rhetoric as malpractice (Bizzel and Hertzberg, 795). Socrates seems not to like the way in which Gorgias evades questions but diverts to orating. Socrates claims that the art of rhetoric seldom needs one to comprehend the subject they address. Socrates argues that rhetoric is an ability to persuade people by telling them what they wish to hear as compared to the truth and knowledge. However, telling people what their ears yearn to listen to does not better them.

Plato has several common themes that appear in most of his works that define the ultimate objectives of humans. Among the themes that Plato likes is art. Art is a skill that intends to benefit those practicing it and those to whom it is being practiced. In Gorgias, Socrates differentiates between true and false art. Socrates stipulates that his modern Greeks and Athenians have been redirected astray from the direction of virtue since they get confused between false routines of pleasure and the true art of good (Bizzel and Hertzberg, 797). Another theme is that of power that is exhibited in Gorgias as well as other Plato's publications. According to Socrates, power is seen as the capability to rule over other people and satisfy their wants. Socrates says that those who have power are occasionally forced to work against their will to benefit those they rule. Further, Plato tackles the theme of evil, which causes wrongful actions. Socrates believes that anyone who commits a wrongful act must be punished since it aids in correcting the wrong. Virtue is another theme that defines Plato's works. Plato is always talking about what makes life good for self and others. In fact, all the other themes rotate around the theme of virtue.

Works Cited

Bizzell, P., & Herzberg, B. (Eds.). (1990). The rhetorical tradition: Readings from classical times to the present. Boston, MA: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press, (1990).

Weaver, R. “The Phaedrus and the Nature of Rhetoric”. The Ethics of Rhetoric, 3-26, (1953).