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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Gorgias , of Leontium , the celebrated rhetorician , and a younger teacher of the same art , named Pol us , are sojourning at Athens , in the house of Caiiicles , a man not otherwise known to us , but who seems to have been what is called a politician , ( iroXtnicoc , ) a frequenter of , and speaker at , the public assemblies , the great object of whose life was the attainment of influence in public affairs . To this house Socrates , with
his friend Chaerephon , pays a visit , and finds that Gorgias has just terminated a long exposition , or lecture . Socrates , however , expressed a hope that Gorgias would still consent to expound to him ; as he was desirous to hear from himself , what was the power of his art , and what it was he professed to teach : the remainder of Ids exposition might be postponed to another time . Callicles replied , that there was nothing like asking the man himself ; and that he had , in fact , undertaken to
answer whatever questions any one thought fit to ask . Socrates therefore requested Chaerephon , who was previously acquainted with Gorgias , to ask . * Ask what ? ' said Chaerephon . ' Ask him what he is . ' 4 ? ' 'So that , if he made shoes , he would answer that he is a shoemaker : do you understand me ? ' c Yes , ' answered Chserepbon , and addressed Gorgias thus : —* Is it true , O Gorgias , as Callicles tells me , that you offer to answer any sort of questions ? ' ' It is . I said
so just now ; and no one , for many years past , has asked me any question which was new to me / ' Then you must be very ready at answering . ' You have it in your power to try me . ' * Yes , ' , ( said Polus , interposing in the conversation , ) * and me likewise , if you like : for Gorgias seems to me to be tired , having just now spoken at great length . ' ' Do you think , ' said Chaerephon , ' that you can answer better than Gorgias V * Of what consequence is that , if I can answer well enough for you V ' Answer then . If Gorgias were skilled in the same art as his brother Herodicus , what ought we to call him V ' What his brother is ; a physician : is it not so V * Certainly . ' * If he were acquainted with the same art as Aristophon , what ought we to call him ?' 4 A- painter . ' ' But now , since he is skilled in some art , what is the
name that we ought to give him V * O Chaerephon , ' answered Polus , c there are among men many arts , skilfully derived from skill . Skill makes our lives pass according to art ; want of skill according to chance . Some partake of some of these arts , others of others : the best persons partake of the best arts ; of whom Gorgias is one , and partakes of the noblest of arts . ' Socrates now interposes , and addressing Gorgias , observes , that Polus seems to be well provided with words , but that he has not performed
what he promised to Chaerephon . ' What is that T answered Gorgias . * He does not answer the question which was put to him . ' * Suppose that you were to question him yourself . " ' If you will permit me , I would much rather question you : for it is clear to me , from what Polus aid , that lie has bestowed more attention upon what is called rhetoric , than upon the art of discussion , ( or dialectics ) . 4 How so V asked Polus . ' Because , when Cheerephon asked you what was the art which Gorgias taught , you panegyrized the art , as if somebody had censured it , but what it was you did not tell . ' * Did I not say that it was the noblest of arts V * Yery true : but nobody asked you what was the quality of Gorgiaa ' s art , but what was the nature of it , and what GargW j ought to be called . As then Chaerephon put his first question * well .
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69 » Plato ' s Dialogue *; ike Gorgia * .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1834, page 692, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2638/page/16/
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