Socrates: Political Thought - Essay Example

Political Science - Political Thought Inserts His/her Inserts Grade Inserts 22 October 2009 Socrates is known in history as a man of character and wisdom. His philosophical method used to arrive at truth is known as ‘dialogue’, He often asked questions to the youth who lived at Athens of his time, and made them arrive at the right solutions to the problems presented. He has been credited with having helped the world see, Plato, the prolific writer, and philosopher emerge, who was Socrates’ disciple, and who in turn was the master of Aristotle, all these three being included in the category of the greatest philosophers the world has ever seen. “ In the Socratic dialogues, his extended conversations with students, statesmen, and friends invariably aim at understanding and achieving virtue {Gk. areth [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 certain sort of discourses 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 fifth century BC onwards these wise men taught the skills of civic life, and this was done with citing examples. Out the two options, when a discussion arises as to which is more good and useful, Socrates advocates to choose 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 Paedrus. “…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 sophistic 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). “Rhetoric for the ancient Greeks was not a concept without conflict. Platos early conception of rhetoric called it a "knack" that could be used to make poor arguments seem the better (a view we often hear today). For Plato, a proper rhetoric was a skill, used in the service of philosophy, to help mankind arrive at transcendent truth” (Andrew R. Cline, PhD, 2003). Direct democracy originated in Athens, where everyone had political participation in electing their representatives. The great philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, attempted to bring in explanations regarding acceptable form of government, which they thought should be highly ideal. A shift from the traditional democratic set up as founded in Greece was necessitated because it was felt difficult as the size of the population became bigger and this forced the transition from Direct Democracy to indirect democracy. It is Greece which succeeded in giving shape to political thought and democracy. Politics is meant to assure the equal well-being of all people, living within a country. But as years passed by, contrary to the spirit of the Greek direct democracy, there began to emerge a system of thought, which stressed on capturing power and maintaining it in whatever way possible. Yet, it became synonyms with power. Now we hear of power politics. But, we must be guided by the maxim, if we too think in terms of power politics: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Politics is the science or art of political government. While talking about politics, the first thing that comes to our mind is democracy. Democracy can uplift the values in politics, and political participation of all people in one particular country is possible only where democracy thrives. The aim for which all democratic political systems exist, is to give a concrete shape to the definition for democracy as given by Abraham Lincoln in his famous Gettysburg speech: ‘a government of the people, for the people, and of the people.’ While studying about politics and its importance and purpose, we need to look at what Aristotle has to say in this regard. But his notions must be understood rightly and exactly as what he meant, by using certain terms which, if taken literally today, might be understood differently from what he wanted to express. “The subject of Aristotle’s politics is not exactly we understand the word, rather it is constitutions” (Alexander, et al, 1995. P. xvii). In addition to this, when he uses the word, “cities” we must see the word as applying to our states. Machiavelli, a famous Italian political thinker and philosopher, would clamor for capturing power and to maintain it, for which one need not look for the morality. According to him, the prime thing is that one must hold it and by any means maintain it. It is absolutely right from his viewpoint. The purpose of politics is and should be to ensure that people are their own masters, and this ideal can only be achieved by true democracy. In this kind of politics people can exercise freedom and liberty. When people are assertive and active in politics, those handling power will be forced to discharge their duties in a honest manner. What requires to be done to be active in politics is a commitment to the ideals of justice and equality. “In the Gorgias of Plato, Socrates critiques the sophistic position (adopted by Meno, among others) in the presence of Gorgias himself - albeit with arguments which themselves are not infallible… Xenophon learned from his teacher that wisdom and moderation ought not to be separated, thus leading to a prudent adherence to Socratic rhetoric that tempers the desire for rule in ambitious young men” (All academic. n. d). Socrates taught the world especially the Athenians how to think in terms what is the “summum bonum”, the ultimate good. Gorgias depicts a beautiful and logical argument going on between Socrates and Gorgias in which Socrates criticizes the sophists’ position. The ennobling depiction of Socratic rhetoric that appears there serves also as a powerful, if implicit, critique of the dangers posed to young men, such as Meno, by an enthusiasm for a pure, calculating political rationalism (such as seems exhibited in modern rational choice theory) and by a hubristic reliance upon certain unexamined opinions about human beings and the nature of rule. Socrates with his beautiful arguments brings in a realistic picture of what the young men and their thoughts should be, and his position shows how one should be guided in the true spirit of argument and knowledge, which will ultimately lead the young men away from the perils that are waiting, if one loves to be misguided! It exhorts the young people, however ardent they are in their outlook, to stand guaranteed of the truth of the arguments presented and not swept away by the charm of illogical arguments. Mere confidence in the power of man’s capability for reason and the power of words (rhetoric) will not be enough in politics. Rhetoric is a knack as far as Socrates is concerned and, clarity of thoughts and words leading people to what is good, is what he seeks to find. Works Cited: Aristotle, Robinson, Richard, Keyt, David, Politics, Volume 2. Reissue, illustrated, reprint: Oxford University Press, 1995. "Socrates, (469-399 B.C.E.)” Garth Kemerling. 22 Oct 2009 . Plato, "Phaedrus Study Guide". 1999-2009 Gradesaver LLC. 22 Oct 2009 . Allacademic. Inc. "Gorgian Sophistic vs. Socratic Rhetoric: The Limits of Political Rationalism in the Rival Careers of Meno and Xenophon". All academic research. 22 Oct 2009 . Andrew R. Cline, Ph.D., "Rhetorica: Press-Politics Journal". 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