Plato's amusement, Ancient Multi-modal Rhetorics and A Fueld Guide to Discourse

The Phaedrus was written as an amusement for Plato. This feels like an Infernal Irony. The dialogue itself wants to be a valid discourse (and of course we mostly consider it to be the case today), but by Socrates' explanation, because it comes to us in written form, it is not intended to be a valid discourse, but merely a reminder for Plato as ,"the garden of letters he will, it seems, plant for amusement, and will write, when he writes, to treasure up reminders for himself" (166 column 2 near the top). Though he quickly grants, in the same breath, that a writer of discourse "will be pleased when he sees [others who follow the same path] putting forth tender leaves," strictly speaking, the written word is not serious discourse. My question is do we consider this a valid statement today? So much of discourse hinges on the written word. His argument that written words cannot argue back is valid (accepting of course... blogging). 

Another point of note to me is the blindfold and “silly” behavior Socrates exhibited when he prepared to deliver his first speech (144-146). As I read it, I thought it odd and somehow out of place. I now understand that these were intentional rhetorical effects by Socrates to illustrate the nature of the speech. First, Socrates refers to himself several times as a “lover of discourse,” so much so that the word “lover” stands out as important. His behavior and wrapping of his head to save embarrassment is an act to embody the “lover” of his speech. Taken from the perspective of the first speech, it seems a horrid thing for Socrates to call himself, but he fixes it (and this is where the rhetorical effect comes in to play) with his second speech, by defending the lover.

On a completely separate topic, I was glad that near the end of the dialogue, Socrates summed up, in simple steps how to do artful discourse. I will post that list here. Socrates’ words can be found on page 167 in the first column in the top half of the page.

        1)      Know your subject inside and out

      2)      Define all elements

      3)      Classify all elements

      4)      Know your audience (or, know all audiences)

      5)      Determine the most appropriate type of language (based on the chosen audience)

      6)      Format and style your discourse according to steps 4 and 5