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gorgias-第3章

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  Soc。 Then hear me; Gorgias; for I am quite sure that if there ever was a man who…entered on the discussion of a matter from a pure love of knowing the truth; I am such a one; and I should say the same of you。   Gor。 What is coming; Socrates?   Soc。 I will tell you: I am very well aware that do not know what; according to you; is the exact nature; or what are the topics of that persuasion of which you speak; and which is given by rhetoric; although I have a suspicion about both the one and the other。 And I am going to ask…what is this power of persuasion which is given by rhetoric; and about what? But why; if I have a suspicion; do I ask instead of telling you? Not for your sake; but in order that the argument may proceed in such a manner as is most likely to set forth the truth。 And I would have you observe; that I am right in asking this further question: If I asked; 〃What sort of a painter is Zeuxis?〃 and you said; 〃The painter of figures;〃 should I not be right in asking; What kind of figures; and where do you find them?〃   Gor。 Certainly。   Soc。 And the reason for asking this second question would be; that there are other painters besides; who paint many other figures?   Gor。 True。   Soc。 But if there had been no one but Zeuxis who painted them; then you would have answered very well?   Gor。 Quite so。   Soc。 Now I was it to know about rhetoric in the same way;…is rhetoric the only art which brings persuasion; or do other arts have the same effect? I mean to say…Does he who teaches anything persuade men of that which he teaches or not?   Gor。 He persuades; Socrates;…there can be no mistake about that。   Soc。 Again; if we take the arts of which we were just now speaking:…do not arithmetic and the arithmeticians teach us the properties of number?   Gor。 Certainly。   Soc。 And therefore persuade us of them?   Gor。 Yes。   Soc。 Then arithmetic as well as rhetoric is an artificer of persuasion?   Gor。 Clearly。   Soc。 And if any one asks us what sort of persuasion; and about what;…we shall answer; persuasion which teaches the quantity of odd and even; and we shall be able to show that all the other arts of which we were just now speaking are artificers of persuasion; and of what sort; and about what。   Gor。 Very true。   Soc。 Then rhetoric is not the only artificer of persuasion?   Gor。 True。   Soc。 Seeing; then; that not only rhetoric works by persuasion; but that other arts do the same; as in the case of the painter; a question has arisen which is a very fair one: Of what persuasion is rhetoric the artificer; and about what?…is not that a fair way of putting the question?   Gor。 I think so。   Soc。 Then; if you approve the question; Gorgias; what is the answer?   Gor。 I answer; Socrates; that rhetoric is the art of persuasion in courts of law and other assemblies; as I was just now saying; and about the just and unjust。   Soc。 And that; Gorgias; was what I was suspecting to be your notion; yet I would not have you wonder if by…and…by I am found repeating a seemingly plain question; for I ask not in order to confute you; but as I was saying that the argument may proceed consecutively; and that we may not get the habit of anticipating and suspecting the meaning of one another's words; I would have you develop your own views in your own way; whatever may be your hypothesis。   Gor。 I think that you are quite right; Socrates。   Soc。 Then let me raise another question; there is such a thing as 〃having learned〃?   Gor。 Yes。   Soc。 And there is also 〃having believed〃?   Gor。 Yes。   Soc。 And is the 〃having learned〃 the same 〃having believed;〃 and are learning and belief the same things?   Gor。 In my judgment; Socrates; they are not the same。   Soc。 And your judgment is right; as you may ascertain in this way:…If a person were to say to you; 〃Is there; Gorgias; a false belief as well as a true?〃 …you would reply; if I am not mistaken; that there is。   Gor。 Yes。   Soc。 Well; but is there a false knowledge as well as a true?   Gor。 No。   Soc。 No; indeed; and this again proves that knowledge and belief differ。   Gor。 Very true。   Soc。 And yet those who have learned as well as those who have believed are persuaded?   Gor。 Just so。   Soc。 Shall we then assume two sorts of persuasion;…one which is the source of belief without knowledge; as the other is of knowledge?   Gor。 By all means。   Soc。 And which sort of persuasion does rhetoric create in courts of law and other assemblies about the just and unjust; the sort of persuasion which gives belief without knowledge; or that which gives knowledge?   Gor。 Clearly; Socrates; that which only gives belief。   Soc。 Then rhetoric; as would appear; is the artificer of a persuasion which creates belief about the just and unjust; but gives no instruction about them?   Gor。 True。   Soc。 And the rhetorician does not instruct the courts of law or other assemblies about things just and unjust; but he creates belief about them; for no one can be supposed to instruct such a vast multitude about such high matters in a short time?   Gor。 Certainly not。   Soc。 Come; then; and let us see what we really mean about rhetoric; for I do not know what my own meaning is as yet。 When the assembly meets to elect a physician or a shipwright or any other craftsman; will the rhetorician be taken into counsel? Surely not。 For at every election he ought to be chosen who is most skilled; and; again; when walls have to be built or harbours or docks to be constructed; not the rhetorician but the master workman will advise; or when generals have to be chosen and an order of battle arranged; or a proposition taken; then the military will advise and not the rhetoricians: what do you say; Gorgias? Since you profess to be a rhetorician and a maker of rhetoricians; I cannot do better than learn the nature of your art from you。 And here let me assure you that I have your interest in view as well as my own。 For likely enough some one or other of the young men present might desire to become your pupil; and in fact I see some; and a good many too; who have this wish; but they would be too modest to question you。 And therefore when you are interrogated by me; I would have you imagine that you are interrogated by them。 〃What is the use of coming to you; Gorgias? they will say about what will you teach us to advise the state?…about the just and unjust only; or about those other things also which Socrates has just mentioned? How will you answer them?   Gor。 I like your way of leading us on; Socrates; and I will endeavour to reveal to you the whole nature of rhetoric。 You must have heard; I think; that the docks and the walls of the Athenians and the plan of the harbour were devised in accordance with the counsels; partly of Themistocles; and partly of Pericles; and not at the suggestion of the builders。   Soc。 Such is the tradition; Gorgias; about Themistocles; and I myself heard the speech of Pericles when he advised us about the middle wall。   Gor。 And you will observe; Socrates; that when a decision has to be given in such matters the rhetoricians are the advisers; they are the men who win their point。   Soc。 I had that in my admiring mind; Gorgias; when I asked what is the nature of rhetoric; which always appears to me; when I look at the matter 
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