Gorgias

The dialogue explores the essence of rhetoric through Socrates' debates with sophists at a dinner gathering. Socrates seeks to define rhetoric and expose the shortcomings of sophistic oratory, which was prevalent in classical Athens for gaining political and legal advantages. The text highlights the importance of persuasion and critiques the self-proclaimed teachers of this skill, such as Gorgias, who were drawn to Athens for its intellectual prestige. Socrates positions himself as a practitioner of genuine politics, contrasting with the sophists' approach.