Socrates on The Dangers of Writing

In Plato’s Phaedrus, Socrates encounters Phaedrus who has just come from a conversation with Lysias. Phaedrus invites Socrates to walk with him and hear what he has learned from his conversation with Lysias. The two read and discuss Lysias’ speech, and then enter into a discussion on how one can become an expert in rhetorical speaking and on whether writing is beneficial and acceptable or the contrary. Socrates’ thoughts on the subjects of rhetoric and writing will be the main points of this paper.

The first thing one must consider is whether there is any merit in writing or rhetoric. According to Socrates, speech writing is not bad. The only way it can ever be bad is if it is not done well. Therefore, one must consider what is necessary for writing well. Socrates proposes that in order to write well, one must know what is true about his subject. However, Phaedrus points out that perhaps all that is necessary to be seen as a good writer is to know what the people believe to be right about that subject and then write about it as they view it. However, Socrates shows that this is erroneous because then one can persuade others that wrong is right, and as a result rhetoric would have poor results. Instead, Socrates proposes that correct rhetoric is a tool through which knowledge is used to expertly persuade others. However, rhetoric can also be seen as, not a form of art, rather a talent. If it is thus seen, then in order to become an expert in it one must be born with the talent. Even if rhetoric were only a talent, there are steps to improve and build on it. For example, one may have talent, but without an acquaintance with the truth of the subject, one cannot give a professional speech. Once one is acquainted with his subject, th...

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...d of the students to work. The mind will be given concepts to engage with so that it will become engrained in the students for life. The subjects will become useful to the students because of what they have learned through reading and writing combined with the instruction of their teachers, who do not make them only read and write, but also give the students time to discuss and struggle with the various subjects. This is what Socrates and Phaedrus were doing, and of this is what excellent education consists.

Works Cited

Churchill, John. "What Socrates Said to Phaedrus: Reflections on Technology and

Education." Midwest Quarterly 44, no. 2 (Winter2003 2003): 211. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed April 11, 2014).

Nichols, James H. Phaedrus. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1998.

Waterfield, Robin. Phaedrus. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.