Aspasia, the same as Isocrates, believes rhetoric to be effective because of what we make it out to be. Rhetoric is defined by Aspasia as the playing of words to give praise and create a standard for the community. “A word is needed which will duly praise the dead...how shall we rightly begin the praises of these brave men? (Aspasia, 410 B.C.E, p.3)”. In the funeral oration created by Aspasia, she uses rhetoric to give praise, but to the dead during a funeral ceremony who have done something honorable for their community. …show more content…
It is used as manipulation to persuade anyone to do anything. It contains multiple versions of the truth because nothing really exist, it simply made sense through symbols. Gorgias, in his Encomium of Helen sated at the end that “[his] purpose was to compose a speech as an Encomium of Helen and an amusement for myself. (Gorgias, 2003 , p.84). This means Gorgias sees rhetoric as being
used for the speakers amusement and games, his own satisfaction.. Gorgias also says the receiver cannot be held accountable for their language (rhetoric) if they’re constrained in their action.
Plato’s view of rhetoric is deceptive, he states “rhetoric is a mere routine and trick, not an art! (Plato, 360 B.C.E, p.23)”, and this is why the absolute truth is God-like and we may never reach it but it does exist. It’s a search for the truth and a reflection of