Socrates Rhetoric Analysis

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Socrates, a Philosopher

Socrates lived at a period when the ancient city-states of Greece were in war leading to the ultimate defeated of his polis, Athens by Sparta during the Peloponnesian War. Socrates was fond of discourse and arguments on free thought and rhetoric. One of his most famous works, the “Apology” and inspiring Greek writer Xenophon to recreate his conversations in literary works after his death to include “Memorabilia” and “Economicus”. These writings appeared around the same period of the height of Plato’s activity through teaching rhetoric and philosophy in ancient Greece (Huang 404). Thus, it is prudent to explore both the writings of other Greek thinkers to lay down the proper and exhaustive foundation on the philosophy, plays, and teachings of Socrates (Russell 59). The rhetoric of Socrates did not sit well with the aristocrats in Greece who constantly accused him of corrupting the youth and leading meaningless and at times profane thought in both the youth and his students. The writings of the “Apology” finally culminates in the death of Socrates, who was killed by poison after being accused by informants and his old accusers of not grounding his arguments

on the truth of fundamentals of the known.
Socrates on women
The teachings and philosophy of Socrates are hailed as one that informs the rest of the world on modern philosophy on ideas such as democracy, later the rise of feminism to disapprove his misogynistic ideology, and free thought. Socrates claimed, “…….being born a woman is similar to divine punishment…..woman is half way between man and an animal……” The disregard for women by Socrates in his thought and arguments did not settle well with one of his most renowned pupils, Plato. Plato believed that similar to Socrates; women were weak, easy to contaminate, physically incapable of strength as men, but not as gullible and intellectually weak as Socrates believed. The opposition presented by Plato to his teacher Socrates is that, despite the inherent differences with training, education, and better opportunities some women would become equally capable as men to become warriors, leaders, and priestesses in similar professions as their male equivalents.
Socrates Influence on his famous Pupil, Plato
It is difficult to explore the philosophy of Socrates without including the writings and the thoughts of his most famous and beloved pupil, Plato fully. Plato, philosophy was inherently inspired by the teachings of Socrates, whose idea of women was no less misogynistic. During ancient Greece, women were highly relegated to domestic duties. Socrates during his rhetoric meetings and teachings always excused women from his presence due to his inherent belief that they were weak creatures incapable of possessing intellect and powerful thought (Brainerd 12). Some critics and commentators view this with scathing belief that Socrates believed that women could easily be possessed and thus contaminate the process of divine and clear thinking that the men possessed.
Socrates in the “Apology”
The “Apology” written by Plato offers direct recreation of Socrates in his final days before sentencing.

The work also disputes Socrates idea of the democracy of the juries of Athens, which he sees as corrupt and laden by tyranny (Brainerd 21). This view of tyranny can be said to be the narrow-mindedness of the jury, which condemned him to death without fully exploring his defense. Despite the applaud, Plato gets by simply not carrying the philosophy of his teacher with him, but to create his own political though makes Socrates teachings almost complete. A student cannot live in the shadow of his master all along, and Plato is dismembering himself from complete interruption by Socrates teaching seals the fate of Socrates aims, free thought and free

will.
The “Apology” shows various themes and fundamentals in law, ethics, politics, and ultimately regards for free thought. The accusers of Socrates in the “Apology” claim he corrupts the youth by leading them into impropriety, has no regard for the supernatural, such as the Athenian gods, and was also accused of impiety (Russell 78). Immorality according to the writings in this work brings forth the same questioning techniques that Socrates had for his pupils and the youth he met at social places. He posed that Athenians conscience had been violated, due to their blindness in thought to see that there is no connection to what was previously thought (Huang 406). For instance, Socrates believed that the sophist, who were among the principal accusers and his peers who opposed his ideas had no regards to free thinking, especially on cosmological features. To them the sky-like components of the stars and moon were only representative of theological reverence and not scientific elements.
Conclusion
Socrates was able to lay down the basis of free thought through his supposition of questioning. The technique was taught to his students such as Plato and raised hell in the courtyards of sages and old accusers who thought he was too outrageous in his thinking. This form of critical thinking was not only dangerous then, but allowed for the recreation of new views, rigorous inquiries, and philosophical grounding to allow on humanity thought and ideas not to stagnate. Despite his death, through poison, one of the furiously guarded analogies of Socrates philosophical thought was that virtue was inherent to human beings and would be outrageous to teach it. Also, deciphering from most of his arguments and posing of questions, Socrates showed that philosophy was the champion of free thought. Thus, guarding free thought has become the equivalent of today’s free political through, freedom of speech, and free will, and democracy.

Works Cited
Brainerd, Rebekkah. Classical Political Philosophy and Modern Democracy. University Honors
Thesis. Portland state university. 2013. Print.
Huang, Juin-lung. "The Revival of Athens in the History of Political Thought." National cheng university. 2010. Print.
Russell, Bertrand. History of Western Philosophy: Collectors Edition. Routledge, 2013. New York. Print.