The character Gorgias in Plato's dialog was based on a real historical figure from Socrates' time in Ancient Athens. Gorgias lived from 485 BC until 380 BC and has been called "the father of sophistry." His innovations in structure and ornamentation raised speech-writing to an art (Technē). In addition, he popularized the use of "paradoxilogica," which means paradoxical thought and expression. According to Socrates, good and bad cannot exist in the same person simultaneously. But Gorgias claimed that, by way of paradoxilogica, one could harmonize two opposing views found together. This led him to some surprising assertions, including the claim that "nothing exists"; this led to him to called a Nihilist, a believer in nothing, by some.
Gorgias also refined the art of rhetoric used in courts to prove guilt or innocence. His Encomium to Helen is one surviving example. In this speech, Gorgias argues to absolve Helen of the blame for causing the Trojan War. He says that if the gods caused her to do it, we are all to blame for being weaker than they. If love caused her to do it, then we must excuse her for love, which is either divine or a sickness, and she would not be at fault for either. Finally, he wonders whether speech made her do it. It affords him the opportunity to conclude with an encomium to speech, saying: "Speech is a powerful master and achieves the most divine feats with the smallest and least evident body. It can stop fear, relieve pain, create joy, and increase pity." It was exactly this supernatural view of a mere art that caused Plato to write his dialogue opposing and unmasking the supposed power of rhetoric, and reaffirm justice and truth, rather than rhetoric and appearance, as the highest good.
