Gorgias by Plato

 Gorgias by Plato

Gorgeous Gorgias in some parts, but not overwhelming in others

Plato and Socrates are two titans of human thought, thinkers that have had an enormous impact and contribution to the development of mankind, with brilliant ideas that have shaped the Western democracy.

Nevertheless, I was not all that happy with Gorgias.

First of all, I have been on the wrong side of the arguments, if not throughout, at least to begin with and for large parts.
Socrates appeared to be too belligerent, maybe in the audio version that I heard he appears more violent.
Granted, his interlocutors made me think that dialectical dialogue as I knew it may have given way to a locker room exchange of rude words.

Of course this is just the view of a dilettante, with inclination to sophism that actually proves that Socrates is right.

The vehement crucifixion of the rhetoric and then sophist occupations are too virulent for my taste and ultimately wrong

-          Yes I get the picture
-          Rhetoric can be and is used by malevolent men to evil purpose
-          Trump comes to mind

But still, even if that can be the case, to dismiss a useful skill is not worthy of the wisest man of the ancient world.

-          Sure, the argument that philosophy is worthier than rhetoric is powerful, but to annihilate the latter is wrong


The ethics and morality of Socrates are impeccable

-          He argues that it is better to suffer injustice than to inflict it
-          Better die than do something wrong

Many years ago, I have first read some of the ideas of Plato, once in a while as presented by Socrates in the dialogues.
The issue of death stayed in my mind

-          You are not afraid of death Socrates?
-          No
-          What is the reason
-          I do not know about it
-          So
-          Nobody has come back from the other side to inform us about it
-          Yes, it is true
-          Therefore, to be afraid of it would be to pretend to know something about death
-          Continue…
-          And I never say that I know something that I do not know

And indeed, Socrates came to the conclusion that he was declared the wisest man of the Ancient world because he never claimed to know anything

-          “I know that I know nothing”

Taking his quote, I know nothing about Gorgias.

At least I did not take it the “right, good” way and I have sided with the bad, ugly aspect of the heated argument.

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