Question

In at least 100 words, describe how Socrates often uses rhetoric to express his central ideas.

Answer 1

Socrates uses all forms of rhetoric throughout his defense. First, he uses ethos in his defense. He appeals to his audience by telling the story of when the Oracle of Delphi, claimed that he was the wisest man in the world. Then he tries to prove these claims as correct based off of his character. He then claims that he is in fact the wisest man because a wise man understands that he does not know everything nor do they pretend to do so. Then he uses logos during his defense. Socrates attempts to use correlation or logos to prove that in fact he is not guilty of the crimes he accused off. He questions one of his accusers and asks Meletus that if there is anyone in the world that "believes in human phenomena but does not believe in human beings". Socrates uses this seemingly logically correct statement to prove that, he does believe in the gods. Near the end of Socrates defense he starts to use pathos. He appeals to their sense of emotion by trying to appeal to ones sense of duty to the state of Athens. He then uses that statement to show that his actions are merely his duty to the state of Athens. And that while others call his actions annoying he is in fact helping that state of Athens form becoming complacent, and by finding him guilty would be a crime against their own duty to the state as fellow citizens.

Answer 2

Sophist with a wealthy father, who paid for him to study with Protagoras, Prodicus of Cheos, and Gorgias. Had a gentle nature and stage fright- quickly realized that this would cripple any possibility of a political career, so he became a speechwriter, and then a prominent teacher. Tried to persuade his fellow Sophists that rhetorical invention was ground in every part of speech, and word choice/style reflected the speaker's character. In this way, he felt that the speaker's presence through delivery is highly persuasive.Tried to match meaning and rhythm.From Isocrates, Aristotle derived theories that humans aren't animals because we use speech, ethos is most important in persuasion, and rhetoric is an art, not a science. Isocrates implemented benefits of imitation to his students: "Understanding civic virtue gives on the ability to make good decisions; rhetoric allows one to justify these decisions. But you can make this in 100 words any way you want