Compose a 1250 words assignment on socrates: political thought.

Compose a 1250 words assignment on socrates: political thought. Needs to be plagiarism free!

In the Socratic dialogues, his extended conversations with students, statesmen, and friends invariably aim at understanding and achieving virtue {Gk. Gareth [aretê]} through the careful application of a dialectical method that employs critical inquiry to undermine the plausibility of widely-held doctrines” (Socrates, 2006). The purpose of rhetoric is persuasion. It uses a certain sort of discourse for attaining this end. It takes into account the type of audience present, and in using language the rhetoricians highlight the socio-political aspects of the place.

When we see it in the academic circles, we see emphasis placed on both writing and speaking.“In the fifth century, particularly in Athens, conditions encouraged the rise of the class of professional teachers who became known as sophists…their target audiences include the wealthy, the career-oriented young men who wanted to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the new democracy for advising the people and, in some cases for professional advancement” (Plato, 1998 p, 15-16).

The sophists were known as the itinerant lecturers. From the fifth century BC onwards these wise men taught the skills of civic life, and this was done by citing examples.Out of the two options, when a discussion arises as to which is more good and useful, Socrates advocates choosing what is more well and expedient. For Plato ignorance of the true good is the main reason for the moral corruption in his time. The rhetoricians claimed to know more about human good. How Socrates argues for rhetoric is well-clear in Phaedrus.

“…After Socrates concludes his Great Speech, the second speech, the dialogue transitions to a discussion of rhetoric and writing. Phaedrus has been influenced by the sophisticated view of rhetoric, which states that persuasion trumps truth in the art of rhetoric. Socrates challenges this argument by demonstrating the harmful influences of speaking without knowing the truth. Rhetoric, in fact, directs the soul. As such, the rhetorician must understand the souls of different audiences and speak accordingly.

Such understanding cannot be gleaned from books on rhetoric” (Plato, 2006).