Spcm 201 1st Edition Lecture 4 Current Lecture Plato (428-347 B.C.E.) One of the greatest known philosopher of all time Wrote texts on all kinds of issues, including rhetoric Has an evolving view of rhetoric One of the most consequential voices “western” thought Plato and Socrates A student of Socrates Socrates 469-399 B.C.E. Know a lot about him from students Greatest philosopher of all time Believed in universal truth - “This is what’s right, true…” Taught for free and lived a life of relative poverty A prolific question-asker- Got him in trouble with the powerful men of Athens - Put on trial for “corrupting the youth” Put to death by hemlock for “corrupting the youth”- Hemlock is a drink Things to know when reading Plato Believes in universal truth Plato writes in dialogues Follows the Socratic method Highly reliant upon stories metaphors and imagery Socrates (the main) vs. Socrates (the character) Most histories of western civilization beginning with Plato Allegory of the Cave (reading) Allegory: an expression by means of symbolic functional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; an instance of such expression; a symbolic representation Prisoners, bound and can only see forward Directed at a wall with shadows Shadows come from fire Made behind them They see animals, artifacts People behind them are talking and prisoners assume the shadows are talking Allegory of the cave is largely about truth According to Plato, people like the Sophists People rely on others to know how the world works Philosophers believe there are two universes—one that is artificial and one is the absolute truth We may all begin our lives in the cave We can break free of what others are trying to present the world as and see it for what it really is What are your responsibilities once you’re out of the cave What do we learn from the Allegory of the cave? “From” and the Perfect world The world is not as it seems The Individual Journey to Discover Truth Difficult to show others the way Have to choose to see the real world by yourself The responsibilities of those who know the truth Return to darkness Educate those who can see Rule those who cannot see How does this relate to rhetoric? What do we expect Plato will say about: Appeals to eikos/probability? - A point of friction The Sophists?- Focused on probability- Don’t truly care about rhetoric Education?- Rhetoric creates a better society Usefulness of rhetoric? - Court room>true or false- Speakers have to know the truth Rhetoric’s role in making a better citizenry and society? A good leader “Spread(s) happiness throughout the city be bringing the citizens into harmony with each other through persuasion…or
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