Language is a Mighty Lord: A Gorgias Reader - Paperback

by Andrew J. Patrick (Editor), Gorgias of Leontini (Author)

Did Helen of Troy have no choice in provoking the Trojan War? Is Falsehood more powerful than truth? Does anything exist, and if it does, can we say anything about it? These are the sort of controversies with which the Sophists of Ancient Greece scandalized their audiences. None did so as famously or successfully as Gorgias of Leontini. Plato devoted an entire dialogue to attacking his methods, and Aristotle praised and criticised him in his guidebook on Rhetoric. But he has had few books devoted to him. Until now. This reader contains all of Gorgias' extant works, including the "Encomium of Helen" plus a parody/tribute, "An Encomium of Gorgias" by editor Andrew J. Patrick.

Author Biography

Andrew J. Patrick has presented his thoughts on Gorgias to the College English Association/Middle Atlantic Group Conference. He writes, blogs, and manages Riposte Publishing from an office somewhere in Maryland. Find him at andrewjpatrick.com or @ajpwriter on Twitter.