Force Vs Persuasion

1. I love the provocative question asked about the difference between force v. persuasion. And what a nicely formed question. One of the many things I find in my everyday life teaching the kids the difference between argumentation and debate. And just as there is a difference between those two, I believe that there is a stark difference between force and persuasion. Socrates certainly was pleading, but in that mind set, is that more of a persuasion? One might even debate that manipulation should be thrown in to one if not both of those categories. One of the differences I see as crucial is that persuasion requires understanding. Coercion/force requires only power. We usually associate coercion with observable force, but sometimes it’s …show more content…
The scary notion that pops up is that most of the citizens will accept these teachings almost as if they were slaves, without being able to explain them. And how interesting that we are even seeing this in today’s culture. People blindly following their political party just because of a simple label, but not doing the proper and necessary research about what they are battling for or against. The Trump/Sanders supporters out in the country seem to be doing this same following. Most just are accepting of their teachings/rants and the followers don’t need an explanation. They just need a voice to tell them. Which is interesting that the Athenians required the Council to suggest that all members of the Council to be philosophers and receive an advanced education in order to pursue these philosophical questions to acquire this wisdom. This separated them from the citizenry that were blindly following. Noting the parallels in 2016 are surprising. Extremely …show more content…
The ideology of knowledge comes in frequently within the books as well. Training and teaching described is intended only for those children who will eventually become the guardians of the state. Again, the argument or debate could be had, isn’t that every child in their own way or another? However, their performance at this level of education properly determines both whether they are qualified to do so and, if so, whether each of them deserves to be a ruler or a soldier. A society should design its educational system as a means to distinguish among future citizens whose functions will differ and to provide training appropriate to the abilities of each. The teacher in me looks at this and