Throughout the years there have been many debates between those who practice different forms of statesmanship. Many of these debates have been between those who practice philosophy and those who are rhetoricians or orators. One such debate between a philosopher and a rhetorician may be found in the Gorgias in which a debate between Socrates representing the philosopher and Callicles representing the rhetorician. Now it has been said "yesterday's philosophy becomes today's cliches." Meaning that most if not all of the what is believed to be radical thinking in the ways of politics, is instead merely the same things which philosophers were speaking of years ago. It would seem from that, that all political thought is just a case of the politician stealing the good ideas of change from

Here Socrates is questioning the true motives of his rhetorician counterpart, and whether he has in his mind the constituents whom he is supposed to be representing in the assembly. Or if instead of his constituents he is thinking only of his own selfish desires. This is a question that has arisen on more than one occasion in our own seat of government in Washington, D.C. Whether the 535 some odd men and women whom are elected to public office keep in mind what is best for their constituents whom elected them into office once they arrive in Washington. For the true statesman always has in mind the highest good for all, not just what is beneficial for himself, such would be the case with the philosopher, Socrates would say.

Callicles holds a very low opinion of philosophy referring to it as an activity which "one engages with in one's youth." Such a statement cuts right to the heart of debate between Socrates and Callicles, as to which is the way of the true statesman. Referring to philosophy as the activity of a child shows that Callicles has very little respect for philosophy. Making it clear that Callicles believes that while rhetoric is the art of true men, philosophy is nothing more than child's play.

Political philosophy is a very complex idea, which to comprehend. It has been likened to "love or friendship," as these are two of the most difficult subjects for the human mind to even attempt an undertaking with an end goal of complete understanding of these subjects. For unlike nuclear physics, chemistry, or rocket science there are no exact answers when one attempts to understand love or friendship. There are not any formulas, which will insure one to fall in love, nor are there any formulas, which will guarantee friendship. Love and friendship are feelings that just seem to happen on their own accord. The practice of politics is very similar to love and friendship in this manor. It is similar in that there are no formulas for becoming successful in the political realm. If there were such formulas becoming elected to public offices would be a rather simple task, to the point where anyone who understood the formula would be able to be elected to public office anytime one wished. However, as it stands there are no set formulas for reaching political office. The road to political power often varies from generation to generation, with one fact remaining the same; there are no formulas. With that we begin our discussion of why two men each believed in their own superiority in the realm of statesmanship.

Socrates tells Callicles how, "it will be the soul of a philosopher who has kept to his own business and has not meddled with others' affairs during his lifetime." This passage by Socrates explains how it is the belief of Socrates that after one dies and his naked soul is before the final judges, it will be the philosopher who will be allowed to continue on to the "Island of the Blessed." This passage is telling Callicles that it matters not what your station was during your life with the living, only the truth which your soul will show will matter at the moment of judgement. So in reality it does not matter how much power one acquires political or otherwise, the only true way to reach the Island of the Blessed is through the life of a philosopher. It is for these reasons that Socrates believes that he is the only true statesman in Athens.

What Aquinas might have said to both Socrates and Callicles will now be examined. When the question of what Aquinas might have said to Socrates the answer is that "the views of Aquinas are far removed from the equality found in Plato." While Aquinas in his beliefs w

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Approximate Word count = 2472
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)