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Paper Prompt: This essay address the ethics of advocacy (how we ought to argue on behalf of a person, product, or a cause). Specifically, write this essay so that it addresses the following questions: (1) What is the power of rhetoric, according to Gorgias (look carefully at the different metaphors he uses to describe rhetoric—he says it is like magic, a drug, an overpowering physical force, and an irresistible physical attraction--and find the commonality in these metaphors to see just how understands the power of rhetoric)? (2) Why does Gorgias give this speech, just what does hope to gain from it, and how does this make him a sophist (hint: look at his stated intentions at the beginning of the speech and then look to how he concludes this speech)? (3) For Nietzsche, what is the difference between the truth and a lie, and what does he mean by the idea that he is making this distinction in a ‘non-moral sense’? And how does this fit with Nick Naylor’s advice to his son on how to win an argument? (4) How does Nick Naylor fit the description of a sophist (use both Gorgias and Nietzsche to answer)? (5) Which examples of Nick Naylor’s advocacy throughout the film, including his final speech at the congressional hearing, do you think are unethical and which are ethical?
paper must contain at least three quotes from the assigned text and two descriptions of scenes from the film (that is, it needs to be crystal clear that you have read the text and watched the film)