Platos Gorgias
CHAEREPHON: But now what shall we call himwhat is POLUS: What makes you say so, Socrates?
the art in which he is skilled.
SOCRATES: Because, Polus, when Chaerephon asked you POLUS: O Chaerephon, there are many arts among man-what was the art which Gorgias knows, you praised it as if kind which are experimental, and have their origin in expe-you were answering some one who found fault with it, but rience, for experience makes the days of men to proceed you never said what the art was.
according to art, and inexperience according to chance, and different persons in different ways are proficient in differ-POLUS: Why, did I not say that it was the noblest of arts?
ent 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 pro-SOCRATES: Yes, indeed, but that was no answer to the ficient is the noblest.
question: nobody asked what was the quality, but what was the nature, of the art, and by what name we were to de-SOCRATES: Polus has been taught how to make a capital scribe Gorgias. And I would still beg you briefly and clearly, speech, Gorgias; but he is not fulfilling the promise which as you answered Chaerephon when he asked you at first, to he made to Chaerephon.
say what this art is, and what we ought to call Gorgias: Or rather, Gorgias, let me turn to you, and ask the same ques-GORGIAS: What do you mean, Socrates?
tion,what are we to call you, and what is the art which you profess?
SOCRATES: I mean that he has not exactly answered the question which he was asked.
GORGIAS: Rhetoric, Socrates, is my art.
GORGIAS: Then why not ask him yourself?
SOCRATES: Then I am to call you a rhetorician?
SOCRATES: But I would much rather ask you, if you are GORGIAS: Yes, Socrates, and a good one too, if you would disposed to answer: for I see, from the few words which call me that which, in Homeric language, I boast myself to Polus has uttered, that he has attended more to the art which be.
is called rhetoric than to dialectic.