The Methodical Address of Adolf Hitler
Ahmad Modasir Habib
Charles Carlson
First Assignment
2nd Prompt
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In his dialogues Gorgias, both Socrates, and Gorgias agree on the definition of Oratory. However,
Plato questions the value of Oratory as an art/craft. Do you agree or disagree with Socrates’
argument that a speech should be based on deliberation and produce knowledge, which would
ultimately lead to truth and virtuous life?
Oratory is the art of public speaking, which involves using language and gestures to
effectively communicate a message to an audience. The goal of Oratory is to persuade, inform,
inspire, or entertain an audience, often through rhetorical devices such as repetition, metaphor, and
analogies. Oratory has been used throughout history to influence and inspire people, and it remains
an important skill in fields such as politics, law, education, and business. (Kuipers 2) Besides, in
the "Gorgias" dialogue, Socrates argues that the primary purpose of Oratory should be to seek truth
and promote virtue rather than simply to win an argument or persuade an audience. He believes
that a good speech should be based on deliberation and a thorough examination of the facts rather
than mere rhetoric and clever language. (Socrates 14) This essay portrays the role of Oratory in
the life of Adolf Hitler, which was not based on deliberation and truth but influenced the people
who lived at that time.
It is widely acknowledged that Adolf Hitler was a skilled orator, and his speeches
effectively influenced people, particularly during his rise to power in Germany in the 1930s. As
Socrates said, “But you certainly don’t want to call any of these crafts oratory, do you, even though,
as you phrase it, oratory is the craft that exercises its influence through speeches” (Socrates 5). It
shows that Oratory is a craft that exercises its influence through speech, aiming to persuade,
inform, or through the effective use of language and should be accurate. However, it is important
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to note that the content of the Hitler speeches was often based on propaganda and falsehoods rather
than deliberation and truth. A good example was one of his speeches about those who practice
Judaism. This speech was given on January 30, 1937, in which he called for a "new order" in
Europe and denounced the concept of internationalism, particularly the idea of workers of the
world uniting. He said” nations are no longer willing to die on the battlefield, so this unstable
international race may profiteer from a war or satisfy its Old Testament vengeance. The Jewish
watchword ‘Workers of the world unite’ will be conquered by a higher realization, namely ‘
Workers of all classes and all nations, recognize your common enemy!'”( Baynes 2) Hitler's
rejection of internationalism and his call for workers to recognize a common enemy is based on
the false premise that certain groups, particularly Jews, are responsible for society's problems This
way of speaking or writing is risky as it promotes the idea of creating divisions and blaming certain
groups of people, rather than working together and seeking to understand one another. While some
elements of Hitler's speech may include some aspects that were true, the overall message is deeply
inaccurate and based on a dangerous ideology of nationalism and racism. Therefore, rejecting such
ideas and promoting cooperation and understanding among all nations and peoples is important.
Plato's questioning of the value of Oratory as an art or craft may stem from his belief that
it can be used to manipulate people and unclear the truth rather than promote it. Socrates' argument,
however, suggests that Oratory can be a valuable tool for seeking and promoting truth and virtue
as long as it is used in the right way. Hitler's speeches appealed to people's emotions rather than
their reason. He used rhetorical techniques such as repetition, and exaggeration to stir feelings of
nationalism, and anti-Semitism. He often used a dramatic delivery, using his voice and body
language to create an impression of authority and power. However, the content of Hitler's speeches
was often far from truthful or deliberative. He used lies and distortions to present himself and his
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ideology in the most favorable way. As an example, Hitler had speech about Jewish that he blamed
Jews for Germany's economic troubles and accused them of undermining German society and
culture. He believed in a conspiracy theory that Jews were plotting to take over the world and
establish a global Jewish empire, which he referred to as "Judeo-Bolshevism." He also saw Jews
as a threat to the purity of the Aryan race and advocated for their elimination from society. (Crim
44) He demonized his opponents, particularly Jews and other minority groups, to win popular
support. Furthermore, Hitler's speeches were often based on a twisted interpretation of history and
an idealized vision of the German nation. He presented a simplistic and false narrative of
Germany's past and used this narrative to justify his aggressive foreign policy and his mistreatment
of minority groups.
Socrates' argument is based on the idea that knowledge and truth are essential for a virtuous
life. Therefore, if a speech aims to promote virtue, it must be based on a thorough examination of
the facts, careful deliberation, and a commitment to finding the truth. However, telling the truth is
not a easy job to do. As Socrates mentions, “I’m afraid it may be rather crude to speak the truth.”
( 11) He also recognized that speaking the truth can sometimes be met with resistance, and that
there may be social or cultural pressures to avoid speaking out. Therefore, the quote may reflect
Socrates' awareness of the risks and consequences of speaking the truth, even in a society that
values honesty. For instance, While Hitler's speeches were undoubtedly influential in shaping
public opinion in Germany during the 1930s, they were not based on deliberation and truth but
rather on propaganda. Still, he was able to maintain his government and needed an army to defeat
from his land. As Michal a great writer mentions, “Many Germans were drawn to Hitler and his
message, seeing him as a savior who could restore their national pride and economic prosperity.”
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(Michal 2) Hitler's speeches significantly convinced many Germans to support his policies,
including the persecution and ultimately genocide of Jews and other minority groups.
In conclusion, Oratory is the art of delivering a message to an audience through spoken
language and nonverbal communication. Its objective is to persuade, inform, inspire, or entertain
listeners, typically through the use of rhetorical techniques like repetition, and analogy. Oratory
has been a significant factor throughout history in shaping opinions and attitudes, and it continues
to be an important skill in various professions including politics, law, education, and business.
Hitler was one of great orator and he had many speeches for the Germans, but his speeches were
not based on deliberation and truth. This was a great tool for him to manipulate people and rich to
his goals.
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Works Cited
Baynes, N.H. “Extract from the Speech by Adolf Hitler, January 30, 1939.” Yad Vashem. The
World Holocaust Remembrance Center, https://www.yadvashem.org/docs/extract-from-hitlerspeech.html.
Crim, Brian E. “‘Our Most Serious Enemy’: The Specter of Judeo-Bolshevism in the German
Military Community, 1914–1923.” Central European History, vol. 44, no. 4, 2011, pp. 624–
41. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41411641. Accessed 24 Feb. 2023.
Kuipers, Joel. “Oratory.” Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, vol. 9, no. 1/2, 1999, pp. 173–
76. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43102458. Accessed 10 Mar. 2023.
Michal. “How Did Adolf Hitler Happen?: The National WWII Museum: New Orleans.” The
National WWII Museum | New Orleans, The National World War II Museum, 22 June 2017,
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/how-did-adolf-hitler-happen.
Plato. Gorgias. Translated by Donald J. Zeyl. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co, 1987 .EDITED
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