Gorgias

In seeking to define and explore the nature of rhetoric, Socrates also reveals many of his own views regarding philosophy. What does philosophy mean for Socrates? How is it depicted in relation to other forms of knowledge? What role, if any, do you believe philosophy can play in politics and society today?

Explain the distinction Socrates draws between knowledge and belief. Do you agree with this distinction? Why or why not?

Discuss the ways in which Socrates refutes Gorgias, Polus, and Callicles. What are the methods Socrates uses? What are the advantages and disadvantages of Socrates’s approach?

Socrates claims that nobody willingly does wrong. How does he defend and develop this view throughout the dialogue? How does his view of morality compare and contrast with his interlocutors’ moral beliefs? Which view do you find the most convincing and why?

What values and/or characteristics define Socrates’s ideal politician? Do you think Socrates is correct in arguing that philosophy should guide politics? Why or why not?

Compare and contrast the characters of Socrates’s three interlocutors in the dialogues (Gorgias, Polus, and Callicles). How does Plato’s characterization of each of these figures reflect their respective views on oratory, justice, and politics?

What role does the opposition between convention (nomos) and nature (physis) play in the dialogue? How does Callicles’s view of this opposition differ from Socrates’s view? Can these two forces be reconciled? If so, how, and if not, why not?

How does Socrates define “virtue” or “excellence” (arete)? How does this concept inform Socrates’s understanding of philosophy and the pursuit of a good life? How would you define “virtue”? What is the “good life” to you?