Plato's Rhetoric As A Persuasive Tool

The persuasive tool known as rhetoric has been associated with modern language for many years. The art of rhetoric aims to inform, persuade, and motivate the audience to whom the speech is being addressed. The roots of rhetoric style stretch back to thousands of years ago and has ever since been a constant debate whether it is ethical or unethical. One writer in particular, Plato, felt that rhetoric never leads to anything good, and was only used for bad purposes. Using rhetoric as a persuasive tool is ethical and should be practiced through modern day language. Plato, one of the greatest philosophers of the ancient world, had many suspicions towards the art of rhetoric. He felt that rhetoric focused on persuasion rather than the art of truth. Sophists were figures who symbolized rhetoric’s dangers. Sophists were a group of teachers who set up successful schools of rhetoric in Athens. Sophists often felt that winning a debate was more important than discovering the truth; the truth of a situation depended on one’s perspective, and that any argument could be effective if presented well. Plato’s mentor, Socrates, who was executed because he was one of the strongest critics towards the Peloponnesian War, is portrayed in …show more content…
Furthermore, Plato was strongly against the art of rhetoric and felt that everyone should only speak the truth. Even though Plato argues against using rhetoric in language, many feel that it is ethical and should be practiced through modern day language. To define rhetoric, it is the study and art of writing and speaking well, being persuasive, and knowing how to compose successful writing and presentations Rhetoric allows the writer or presenter to properly think critically and develop strong arguments. Without using rhetoric, one lacks the skill of learning fundamentally and the essential skills to further education (Why is Rhetoric