Rhetoric is the art of persuasion through the use of compelling writing or speaking. In Plato’s “Gorgias”, famed philosopher Socrates argues the truth and how rhetoric can influence a conversation. He claims that rhetoric is nothing but a false truth,a truth detracted from reality. However, Gorgias, a rhetorician, believes that rhetoric is a complex knowledge that gives truth in effective speaking. Throughout the debate, Socrates seizes his knowledge of rhetoric and uses it against Gorgias. His understanding of rhetorical appeals and devices allows him to conspire a plan to trap Gorgias in his own contradictions. Through the use of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos, Socrates adequately uses rhetoric to appeal to the crowd watching the debate. He uses …show more content…
Without a concern for Gorgias’s credibility, Socrates savagely mentions the audiences and how there are people who are willing to take Gorgias as a teacher of rhetoric. This is a form of ethical appeal because he attracts the audience while talking to Gorgias. The passage above is a good use of ethos because Socrates makes sure that Gorgias can’t falsely answer his questions. Socrates is able to detract Gorgias into a state of panic because he uses the crowd in favor of his argument. He states that the questions he’s asking are simply the questions the audience’s are asking. Using ethos, Socrates successfully appeals to the audience trapping Gorgias using a mode of rhetoric.
Socrates claims to pursuit the true knowledge of rhetoric; he doesn’t believe in winning or losing an argument. However, with the use of logos, he appeals to the audience using logical appeals. Socrates uses logos to distill the truth behind rhetoric with the use of logical questions; the questions invoke a logical response to the audience which helps Socrates find fault behind Gorgias reasoning behind rhetoric: Socrates: Now, isn’t a person who’s come under stand building a