Among the important issues that Plato explores in the remainder of "Gorgias":

• the discussion between Socrates and Polus about true arts v. pandering
• the question of whether it is better to do ill or to suffer ill
• the discussion between Callicles and Socrates on the law and on moderation and self-control
• Callicles and Socrates on the nature of art and whether rhetoric is an art

 

Discussion: Platos Gorgias II

            In Plato's Gorgias, Socrates and Polus debate over whether rhetoric is considered to be art or not. Polus considered rhetoric to be craft, but Socrates did not agree with Polus, and he told him that rhetoric is not craft. Socrates considered oratory as a knack. Socrates said oratory is a knack as it produces some specific gratification. Socrates argued that rhetoric is not art but is only a knack. Socrates said that rhetoric has no account of nature, so it is not possible the state the cause of each thing (Sermamoglou-Soulmaidi, 2017).

            According to Socrates, it is better to suffer ill than do it. The people who do ill suffer more ill. The people who avoid the punishment continue to remain bad, so, therefore, if someone has done wrong, they should get its punishment. Socrates also focused on the nature of justice, and he said that justice means equality for all. There was a debate between Callicles and Socrates on law and moderation and self-control. For Callicles, justice is equal to natural justice that states that the power remains powerful and he has the ability to control the less powerful people. The powerful people can use their force, and they have better rule over the worst people. On the other hand, Socrates believed that justice is for all the people, and there should be equal opportunities, equal safety, and equal punishment for all the people (Brickhouse & Smith, 2015).

            Socrates and Callicles discussed the nature of art as rhetoric is not art. Socrates said that rhetoric has no account of nature, so it is not possible the state the cause of each thing. The Plato Gorgias include the debates between Socrates with Polus and Socrates with Callicles. Socrates has always provided evidence with his arguments, and he has never talked without any evidence to support his claims. Socrates does not support that rhetoric is an art, so he has also presented his views on it that why he does not consider rhetoric as an art. Plato Gorgias has a combination of various debates, including the debate on art, the debate on justice, and the debate on nature  (Brickhouse & Smith, 2015).