The Unity of Plato's 'Gorgias': Rhetoric, Justice, and the Philosophic Life

by Devin Stauffer

• ISBN13: 9780521858472
• ISBN10: 052185847X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-04-10
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Stauffer demonstrates the complex unity of Plato's Gorgias through a careful analysis of the dialogue's three main sections. This includes Socrates' famous argumentative duel with Callicles, a passionate critic of justice and philosophy, showing how the seemingly disparate themes of rhetoric, justice and the philosophic life are woven together into a coherent whole. His interpretation of the Gorgias sheds new light on Plato's thought, showing that Plato and Socrates had a more favourable view of rhetoric than is usually supposed. Stauffer also challenges common assumptions concerning the character and purpose of some of Socrates' most famous claims about justice. Written as a close study of the Gorgias, Stauffer also treats broad questions concerning Plato's moral and political psychology and uncovers the view of the relationship between philosophy and politics that guided Plato as he wrote his dialogues.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Introduction	1	(14)
Examining the Master of Rhetoric	15	(25)
The Prelude	17	(3)
The Ensnaring of Gorgias, Part One	20	(9)
The Ensnaring of Gorgias, Part Two	29	(11)
Polus and the Dispute about Justice	40	(42)
Socrates' Description of Rhetoric	43	(7)
Are Rhetoricians Powerful?	50	(5)
The Turn to Justice and the Socratic Thesis	55	(3)
Polus' ``Refutation'' of Socrates	58	(6)
Socrates' ``Refutation'' of Polus	64	(18)
The Confrontation between Socrates and Callicles	82	(41)
Callicles' Opening Speech	85	(7)
Socrates' Examination of Callicles' View of Justice	92	(10)
Moderation versus Immoderation, and the Question of Hedonism	102	(21)
Socrates' Situation and the Rehabilitation of Rhetoric	123	(54)
Noble Rhetoric, the Order of the Soul, and the Socratic Thesis	127	(13)
Socrates' Situation, the Question of Assimilation, and the Issue of Self-Protection	140	(9)
Callicles and His Heroes, True Rhetoric, and Socrates' True Political Art	149	(18)
The Logos about the Afterlife	167	(10)
Conclusion: A Final Reflection on Noble Rhetoric	177	(6)
Bibliography	183	(6)
Index	189