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translated by: Benjamin Jowett

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GORGIAS

by Plato
translated by Benjamin Jowett
GORGIAS


PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: CALLICLES; SOCRATES; CHAEREPHON; GORGIAS;
POLUS
Scene: The house of Callicles.


Callicles.


The wise man, as the proverb says, is late for a fray,
but not for a feast.


Socrates.


And are we late for a feast?
Cal.


Yes, and a delightful feast; for Gorgias has just been
exhibiting to us many fine things.


Soc.


It is not my fault, Callicles; our friend Chaerephon is to
blame; for he would keep us loitering in the Agora.


Chaerephon.


Never mind, Socrates; the misfortune of which I have
been the cause I will also repair; for Gorgias is a friend of mine,
and I will make him give the exhibition again either now, or, if you
prefer, at some other time.


Cal.


What is the matter, Chaerephon-does Socrates want to hear
Gorgias?
Chaer.


Yes, that was our intention in coming.


Cal.


Come into my house, then; for Gorgias is staying with me, and
he shall exhibit to you.


Soc.


Very good, Callicles; but will he answer our questions? for I
want to hear from him what is the nature of his art, and what it is
which he professes and teaches; he may, as you [Chaerephon] suggest,
defer the exhibition to some other time.


Cal.


There is nothing like asking him, Socrates; and indeed to
answer questions is a part of his exhibition, for he was saying only
just now, that any one in my house might put any question to him,
and that he would answer.


Soc.


How fortunate! will you ask him, Chaerephon-?
Chaer.


What shall I ask him?
Soc.


Ask him who he is.


Chaer.


What do you mean?
Soc.


I mean such a question as would elicit from him, if he had been
a maker of shoes, the answer that he is a cobbler.


Do you understand?
Chaer.


I understand, and will ask him: Tell me, Gorgias, is our
friend Callicles right in saying that you undertake to answer any
questions which you are asked?
Gorgias.


Quite right, Chaerephon: I was saying as much only just
now; and I may add, that many years have elapsed since any one has
asked me a new one.


Chaer.


Then you must be very ready, Gorgias.


Gor.


Of that, Chaerephon, you can make trial.


Polus.


Yes, indeed, and if you like, Chaerephon, you may make
trial of me too, for I think that Gorgias, who has been talking a long
time, is tired.


Chaer.


And do you, Polus, think that you can answer better than
Gorgias?
Pol.


What does that matter if I answer well enough for you?
Chaer.


Not at all:-and you shall answer if you like.


Pol.


Ask:-
Chaer.


My question is this: If Gorgias had the skill of his
brother Herodicus, what ought we to call him? Ought he not to have the
name which is given to his brother?
Pol.


Certainly.


Chaer.


Then we should be right in calling him a physician?
Pol.


Yes.


Chaer.


And if he had the skill of Aristophon the son of Aglaophon,
or of his brother Polygnotus, what ought we to call him?
Pol.


Clearly, a painter.


Chaer.


But now what shall we call him-what is the art in which he is
skilled.


Pol.


O Chaerephon, there are many arts among mankind which are
experimental, and have their origin in experience, for experience
makes the days of men to proceed according to art, and inexperience
according to chance, and different persons in different ways are
proficient in different arts, and the best persons in the best arts.


And our friend Gorgias is one of the best, and the art in which he
is a proficient is the noblest.


Soc.


Polus has been taught how to make a capital speech, Gorgias;
but he is not fulfilling the promise which he made to Chaerephon.


Gor.


What do you mean, Socrates?
Soc.


I mean that he has not exactly answered the question which he
was asked.


Gor.


Then why not ask him yourself?
Soc.


But I would much rather ask you, if you are disposed to answer:
for I see, from the few words which Polus has uttered, that he has
attended more to the art which is called rhetoric than to dialectic.


Pol.


What makes you say so, Socrates?
Soc.


Because, Polus, when Chaerephon asked you what was the art
which Gorgias knows, you praised it as if you were answering some
one who found fault with it, but you never said what the art was.


Pol.


Why, did I not say that it was the noblest of arts?
Soc.


Yes, indeed, but that was no answer to the question: nobody
asked what was the quality, but what was the nature, of the art, and
by what name we were to describe Gorgias.


And I would still beg you
briefly and clearly, as you answered Chaerephon when he asked you at
first, to say what this art is, and what we ought to call Gorgias:
Or rather, Gorgias, let me turn to you, and ask the same question what
are we to call you, and what is the art which you profess?
Gor.


Rhetoric, Socrates, is my art.


Soc.


Then I am to call you a rhetorician?
Gor.


Yes, Socrates, and a good one too, if you would call me that
which, in Homeric language, "I boast myself to be.


"
Soc.


I should wish to do so.


Gor.


Then pray do.


Soc.


And are we to say that you are able to make other men
rhetoricians?
Gor.


Yes, that is exactly what I profess to make them, not only at
Athens, but in all places.


Soc.


And will you continue to ask and answer questions, Gorgias,
as we are at present doing and reserve for another occasion the longer
mode of speech which Polus was attempting? Will you keep your promise,
and answer shortly the questions which are asked of you?
Gor.


Some answers, Socrates, are of necessity longer; but I will
do my best to make them as short as possible; for a part of my
profession is that I can be as short as any one.


Soc.


That is what is wanted, Gorgias; exhibit the shorter method
now, and the longer one at some other time.


Gor.


Well, I will; and you will certainly say, that you never
heard a man use fewer words.


Soc.


Very good then; as you profess to be a rhetorician, and a maker
of rhetoricians, let me ask you, with what is rhetoric concerned: I
might ask with what is weaving concerned, and you would reply (would
you not?), with the making of garments?
Gor.


Yes.


Soc.


And music is concerned with the composition of melodies?
Gor.


It is.


Soc.


By Here, Gorgias, I admire the surpassing brevity of your
answers.


Gor.


Yes, Socrates, I do think myself good at that.


Soc.


I am glad to hear it; answer me in like manner about
rhetoric: with what is rhetoric concerned?
Gor.


With discourse.


Soc.


What sort of discourse, Gorgias?-such discourse as would
teach the sick under what treatment they might get well?
Gor.


No.


Soc.


Then rhetoric does not treat of all kinds of discourse?
Gor.


Certainly not.


Soc.


And yet rhetoric makes men able to speak?
Gor.


Yes.


Soc.


And to understand that about which they speak?
Gor.


Of course.


Soc.


But does not the art of medicine, which we were just now
mentioning, also make men able to understand and speak about the sick?
Gor.


Certainly.


Soc.


Then medicine also treats of discourse?
Gor.


Yes.


Soc.


Of discourse concerning diseases?
Gor.


Just so.


Soc.


And does not gymnastic also treat of discourse concerning the
good or evil condition of the body?
Gor.


Very true.


Soc.


And the same, Gorgias, is true of the other arts:-all of them
treat of discourse concerning the subjects with which they severally
have to do.


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