Rhetoric in Plato

Well-known for his significant impact on the philosophical world, Socrates was one of the first people to truly question individuals and take the average level of thinking to a much more elevated level. The Last Days of Socrates, specifically Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito, written by Plato demonstrates Socrates’ great use of the Socratic method as well as rhetoric, the art of persuasion. Many people looked down upon Socrates because they viewed his calling, as told by the Oracle of Delphi, to be impious. Although Socrates was put to death for living a life such as his, he was very extremely successful during his time alive. Socrates was successful in both the realm of philosophical truth and in the outside world because humans used rhetorical ways of thinking to find purpose and make decisions without the influence of other members in society.

Euthyphro in The Last Days of Socrates is based greatly around Socrates’ examining the human mind and digging for the answers to rather obvious questions. A specific instance of rhetoric within this section of the book is when Socrates is talking to Euthyphro and says, “And perhaps, Euthyphro, when asked what the holy is, you don’t want to point out the essence for me, but to tell me of some attribute which attaches to it, saying that holiness has the attribute of being approved by all the gods; what it is, you’ve not said yet” (Eut. 22.11a). In this particular section of Euthyphro, Socrates is examining Euthyphro to figure out what is holy and unholy, what is just and unjust. Euthyphro is incapable of answering Socrates questions because he cannot explain in detail what he is thinking. This specific instance of rhetoric is used to Socrates’ advantage because he shows that he is aware of w...

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..., he was also exceptionally successful in the outside world, both in individuals and Athens. This new way of thinking aided Athens tremendously in several ways. Rhetoric began being used in political elections, debates, storytelling, and even teaching methods in schools. Much like in the world of thought, using rhetoric as a new thinking process helped people make large decisions on their own, varying in reference to things such as school and friends. The use of rhetoric also aided people in finding their purpose in life. During the time when rhetoric became popular, many people valued Socrates’ thinking and applied it in numerous ways to their own lives.

Socrates’ rhetoric was used much to his advantage throughout The Last Days of Socrates and it ultimately had a tremendous impact in the realm of philosophical truth, as well as the outside world, including Athens.