Socrates’ Rhetoric of Anti-Rhetoric?

Abstract

Although the idea of a conflict between rhetoric and philosophy may be traced back to Plato, and more particularly to his representation of Socrates’ method of cross-examination or elenchus as opposed to set speeches, both Plato and Xenophon (the other major source for our knowledge of Socrates) reveal that Socrates had a highly sophisticated command of rhetorical devices, comparable to that of the great orator Demosthenes. This paper illustrates Socrates’ rhetorical style through a close comparison of passages from Xenophon and Plato, on the one hand, and Demosthenes on the other, with reference also to ancient theories of style, most notably in the treatises of Hermogenes. It is further suggested that Socrates may have resorted to these devices precisely when the conclusions reached via the elenchus seemed insufficiently demonstrated.