Kyo 's Key Ideas from Gorgias
by Plato

Socrates then explores whether having knowledge about a subject makes a person embody that knowledge—such as whether someone who knows what is right and wrong would be a righteous person. Socrates finds it illogical when Gorgias agrees. If oratory were about doing what is right, an orator wouldn't misuse their skills, contradicting Gorgias' earlier statement.

Polus, a young orator, interrupts to challenge Socrates, accusing him of rudeness. He questions Socrates’ view on oratory, to which Socrates responds that he sees it as mere flattery rather than an art.

Socrates likens oratory to baking, suggesting that just as bakers provide immediate gratification through sweets, orators flatter their listeners without aiming for long-term good. True skills, Socrates argues, should promote lasting benefits—health for the body and justice for the soul—whereas oratory only seeks to please in the short term.

Polus defends orators by highlighting their societal power, comparable to rulers who can imprison or kill. Socrates counters by asserting that true rulers do not always achieve their desires, as true desires should be directed toward the good. Even if a ruler or orator believes their unjust actions are good, they are not genuinely fulfilling their desires.

Polus reluctantly agrees that wrongdoers should be punished, though he notes that many evade punishment and remain happy. Socrates refutes this, arguing that true happiness comes from facing justice, which cleanses the soul of wrongdoing.

Callicles, another interlocutor, accuses Socrates of pandering to the crowd and rejects his moral views. He argues that justice is a tool for the weak to control the strong, and that superior individuals should naturally dominate society. Socrates, however, insists that even the superior must control their desires to rule justly. Callicles dismisses this idea, advocating for a life of indulgence and freedom from restraint. Socrates attempts to show that a regulated life is better, distinguishing between what is pleasant and what is genuinely good.

Socrates argues that not all pleasures are beneficial, and not all pains are harmful. Discerning this difference is crucial to living well, and this leads to a debate over whether a life focused on politics or philosophy is better. While both Socrates and Callicles agree that oratory can serve the body and soul, Socrates argues that most public speakers prioritize personal gain over the public good. He emphasizes that the soul should be well-ordered, and that a good orator would prioritize the soul's well-being, just as a doctor considers long-term health.

In the conclusion, Socrates acknowledges that he might not fare well in court, as people often prefer comforting lies to hard truths. However, he remains unafraid of any misfortune, focusing instead on the state of his soul when facing judgment in the afterlife. Socrates urges Callicles to join him in pursuing the best life possible, warning him with a story from Homer’s Odyssey about the judgment of souls.

Socrates concludes by asserting that doing wrong is worse than suffering wrong, being truly good is more important than merely appearing good, and oratory should only support what is just. He advises that if one seeks happiness in this life and the afterlife, they should follow the path of philosophy rather than waste time on politics and public speaking.