Gorgias: The Art Of Rhetoric

In Gorgias by Plato rhetoric is compared to a series of occupations and activities like boxing or wrestling, and swimming or piloting a ship. It is also contrasted on a number of occasions to such arts as medicine and gymnastics. This is done in order to give the reader an understanding of the true meaning of rhetoric. With great power comes great responsibility and this is especially true when it comes to rhetoric. Someone who has mastered the art of rhetoric can be a very dangerous person if they so choose. All of these comparisons and contrasts are used to give the reader a better feel for rhetoric and how the art of it is similar to everyday activities. Gorgias is a detailed study of virtue founded upon an inquiry into the nature of rhetoric, …show more content…
Rhetoric is being compared to boxing or wrestling in this situation because both are skills that require a lot of responsibility. “Just because one has learned boxing or wrestling or fighting in armor so well as to vanquish friend and foe alike: this gives one no right to strike one's friend, or stab them to death” (Gorgias 67.) The same can be said for those skilled at the art of rhetoric: just because you are skilled and have the ability to manipulate people into believing what you believe, doesn’t mean you should. Also, if you are skilled at wrestling or boxing does not mean you should go around picking fights with people because you will obviously win. This is the point that Plato is trying to make. Gorgias also points out the fact that it is not the teacher’s fault, or the fault of the skill, if someone uses their skill for evil; it is the person’s fault. “So it is not the teachers who are wicked, nor is the art either guilty or wicked on this account, but rather, to my thinking, those who do not use it properly” (Gorgias 67.) The same can be said for rhetoric, of course there are people that are going to use the power for evil. That doesn’t make rhetoric