of the afterlife and openings going to earth and heaven. The just were told to go to heaven by the opening on the left and the unjust down to an opening on the right. Then, there were other paths leading to a purgatory where men worked off their wrongs. These souls were offered new lives. The souls then drank from the River of Forgetfulness. Those who were not wise drank more than they had to, so that they would be less knowledgeable in their new lives. Odysseus, a wise man chose the life of a simple peasant for his next life. Er experienced all this after he died and came back to life to tell about it. Another one of Plato's works is "Gorgias." The theme of "Gorgias" is the justification of a way of life. Besides the type of arguments, "Gorgias" differs from "The Republic" in that opposers of Socrates argue more fiercely. The dialogue includes Socrates arguing one point and Gorgias, Polus, and Callicles to argue against him. Gorgias is a famous teacher of oratory. He says this is an art. The art leads to power. Gorgias teaches an orator does not need knowledge for success, he just needs to be able to convince. He says he does not teach moral values, he teaches the art of persuasion. Socrates argues by saying that since this is an art that does not involve knowledge, it follows that it is an art in which people who know nothing persuade people who know less. Moral values are used because people must persuade that so-and-so is the right policy. However, the teacher does not teach these values and a deeper knowledge is needed. Polus says that oratory is not fake because the orator's power is real and great. He says we should admire a man who can so sway a crowd that he has absolute power and can kill anybody (H-I-T-L-E-R). Socrates says that a man like this should be rather pitied than admired. This tyrant has committed an injustice. Socrates says that if smooth talk enables to orator to get away with anything, then he himself is injuri...
