Dialectic Accomplishments in Gorgias In Plato’s Gorgias, Socrates tests the validity of Pollus’ opinion on whether Orators have great power. Socrates questions and defines what great power is through questioning every assertion made by Pollus. He imposes that the Orator’s job is do what they see fit. To do what they think will benefit people just as a person takes medicine for the benefits, people don’t take medicine when they are not sick. Socrates proves to Pollus that Orator’s do not have great power because they may have the power to put people to death but they are not doing it because they want to, they are doing it for the benefit. Socrates and Pollus continue there dialectic and test the validity of their opinions on justice and happiness. Socrates questions Pollus on his opinion on whether he thinks people who commit an unjust act are happy or not. Pollus believes that a person who commits an unjust act and doesn’t pay what is due can be happy. Socrates is completely opposed to this and believes anyone who commits an unjust act and pays their dues, is less miserable than the one’s who do not pay there dues. Suffering is also discussed when Pollus tells Socrates that it is better to cause suffering then receive it while Socrates disagrees. I claim that the dialectical conversation between Socrates and Pollus succeeds in testing the …show more content…
Dialectics are beneficial when both sides question each other's assertions but this dialectic is basically Socrates correcting all of Pollus’s assertions and opinions. But does it still accomplishes the goal of correcting the opinions of another person. As Pollus’s contradictions continue throughout, the dialectic gets narrower and narrower until Pollus is left with no choice, other than to change his opinion on Orators and the dialectic has accomplished everything possible in correcting Pollus’s