George Santayana once said, “[t]hose who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” (1). Had Helene Cixous’s arguments in “The Laugh of the Medusa” been regarded as an axiomatic approach to feminist theory, history would be forced to repeat itself. Though Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own was published in 1928, it still contains ideas that are more relevant to the modern world than those of Helene Cixous in “The Laugh of the Medusa,” which was published in 1975. Several of Cixous’s suppositions
theory of rhetoric) not only Plato’s Gorgias, but also his Phaedrus is incorporated to the following analysis. Plato on sophists and rhetoric In Gorgias Plato claims that rhetoric is not a τέχνη (462b) and his accusations against sophists or rhetoricians seem to be reducible to three closely related arguments: first, that rhetoric doesn’t have its own subject (that would make it a τέχνη); second (and most importantly) that it lacks the theoretical basis that is necessary for a τέχνη, and thirdly
counter it with the right response. Protagoras would counter Plato’s claim by emphasizing the need to study areas of rhetoric for survival in a community that is litigious, like Athens. One of the complaints Plato had with rhetoric is that a good rhetorician can persuade anything without having knowledge of the subject. Near the beginning of the discourse, he talks about a physician that cannot convince his patient to take the medicine needed to restore the patients’ health.
discover the nature of rhetoric. Gorgias declares himself to be a rhetorician and one who practices rhetoric. Socrates wants to know what exactly this means. Gorgias distinguishes between the art of rhetoric and other crafts and arts by stating that what rhetoric produces is persuasion. He claims that rhetoric enables one to persuade judges, members of the assembly, and others involved in governmental issues. Gorgias boasts that a rhetorician can make anyone his slave through the use of persuasion. When
Free Will and the Rhetorical Situation Lloyd F. Bitzer’s article, “The Rhetorical Situation”, is an account of what he calls the “rhetorical situation” as what he believes to be the conditions necessary for compelling a rhetorician to engage in rhetoric (35). It is Bitzer’s position that a work of rhetoric comes into existence as a response to the call of a certain state of affairs in the world (32). Furthermore, Bitzer claims that when we find ourselves in such “situations”, we are compelled to
art of speaking and communicating has been a part of life that has developed over time. Rhetoricians, over time, developed techniques for the people of their time to become an effective speaker. One of the practices that was developed during the Common Era and is still used widely today is rhetoric. Rhetoric was developed by Aristotle but other rhetoricians helped establish rhetoric, especially rhetoricians such as Marcus Tullius Cicero (Cline, 2006). Aristotle originally came up with the principal
persuade any audience. Almost 1000 years later, Augustine took this step even further with the use of rhetoric within religion practice. He emphasized the idea that rhetoric is a means by which to promote good will and spread truth. Today, modern rhetorician Dubinsky would take this step even further, by stating that Rhetoric isn’t just a means to an end. Rhetoric improves our very lives and unites people under a common good with the proper ethics. While it is unfortunate that they are from different
to please, or gratify the spectators. Gorgias rebuts saying that it is a craft that should never be practiced against just anyone. He admits that the opponent of the rhetorician should already be experienced in rhetoric before the encounter even happens. Socrates catches Gorgias in a contradiction when Gorgias said that the rhetorician could not be unjust because he is a just man that wants to do “just things”. Socrates catches him in an inconsistency. Before Gorgias explained that one can teach the
The underlying explanation for the apparent discrepancy between the character Socrates’ stance on politics in the Gorgias – that he is amongst the few that practice true politics (Gorg. 521 D) – and in the Apology – that he does not practice what is often viewed as politics (Ap. 31 E) – is reliant upon the subtle distinction that Socrates makes between those two fields; between what politics truly is and the art of politics as it is commonly practiced. Further, this distinction itself is heavily
For hundreds of years, Plato has been admired as a writer, a master rhetorician, an artist, and above all, a philosopher; however, Plato's backlashes against sophistry and art have led to much confusion concerning his ideas and beliefs. John Poulakos says of Plato, "[F]or most rhetoricians Plato has always played the same role he assigned to the sophists--the enemy" (Nienkamp 1). Plato will always appear to be the skilled rhetorician or artist who speaks out against rhetoric and art. In Apology and
Federalist Papers 10 and 51 served to explain the union as a safeguard against factions and insurrection and to explain how the structure of this new union must encompass the ability to furnish proper checks and balances between the different departments within itself respectively. These articles contain absolutely no higher meaning concerning Plato’s beliefs of the True, Good and the Beautiful. The articles are merely rhetoric used to rationalize the benefits of a new system, explain how the new
Communication: An Integral Part of Education Communication is a skill that everyone needs to acquire and learn how to utilize effectively. In any given profession, communication is required regardless of whether or not the field is a creative, professional, or strictly business. Especially in the field of elementary education do the teachers and staff need to possess exemplary communication skills. This is not only with the students but as well as with fellow faculty members and the parents’ involved
Plato's Criticism of Democracy Do not be angry with me for speaking the truth; no man will survive who genuinely opposes you or any other crowd and prevents the occurrence of many unjust and illegal happenings in the city. A man who really fights for justice must lead a private, not a public, life if he is to survive for even a short time. (Apology 31e-32a) These are the words of Socrates, who spoke before the Athenian jury in the trial that would, ultimately, condemn him to his death. Through
The rhetoricians perspective focuses on Martin Luther King Jr’s I Have a Dream speech message, the producers, how the speech was distributed and how the audience consumped the famous speech. The I Have a Dream speech focused on how blacks lacked the equality and freedom they deserved. Using the rhetorcian’s perspective as a reader and a American I agree with King’s message of equality because of how King presented his case for inequality. An example of the reason why everyone should agree with King’s
In Plato’s Phaedrus, Socrates encounters Phaedrus who has just come from a conversation with Lysias. Phaedrus invites Socrates to walk with him and hear what he has learned from his conversation with Lysias. The two read and discuss Lysias’ speech, and then enter into a discussion on how one can become an expert in rhetorical speaking and on whether writing is beneficial and acceptable or the contrary. Socrates’ thoughts on the subjects of rhetoric and writing will be the main points of this paper
gone through four different traditions before evolving. These include rhetoricians, press agents, journalistic traditions, and to the two-way communication that now faces a few professional challenges. Rhetoricians were speechmakers which provided communication services. The very first rhetoricians were seen in Greece. They would use persuasive skills to determine whether an argument could be considered true or false. Rhetoricians’ goal was to influence the public through what was being said, rather
The different notions of rhetoric that Aristotle and Plato possess also create slight differences in their views on the connection between rhetoric and justice. Aristotle and Plato are similar in that they both believe the correct use of rhetoric should be in the service of a genuinely just goal. However, in demonstrating that Gorgias’ claims of rhetoric do not have substance, Plato’s Socrates concludes that rhetoric has nothing to do with justice or virtue. He then proceeds to convince Polus to
explain the role of an orator, as well as describe the ideal candidate for the role. De Oratore uses its text to claim that a speaker must be knowledgeable as well as virtuous in order to be a true orator, and gives further guidelines to being a good rhetorician. Cicero uses a dialogue between men he had known in his youth to make claims and expand upon the topic of orators. The text describes an argument over the ideal rhetor as well as the parallels between philosophy and rhetoric. The subjects of the
William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The most outstanding example in Julius Caesar was a convincing speech performed by Marc Antony, the strongest rhetorician, speaking to the commoners of Rome in an attempt to influence them to support his opinions on the specific cause involving Caesar’s death. Julius Caesar is a play with a surplus of rhetoricians, conspirators, and liars. Specifically, Marc Antony shows his talent in persuasion and manipulation through a speech delivered to the Romans. He
Rhetoric is the art of effective speaking or writing, and persuasion. Most people use rhetoric numerous of times in their everyday life without their concern or knowing. In Plato’s Gorgias, Socrates discusses the nature and uses of rhetoric with Gorgias, while raising moral and philosophical perspective of rhetoric. Socrates believes that rhetoric is a kind of false knowledge whose purpose is to produce conviction, and not to educate people about the true extent of knowledge (Plato 15). On the other