Annotated In 'The Speech Of Callicles'

The Speech of Callicles

After reading "The Speech of Callicles" I noticed that Philosophers were not what I originally thought they were. I have always pictured them being men who were ahead of there time. Who were searching for the answers to life. In the first paragraph these beliefs I once had about philosophy were changed. Callicles states that Philosophers would get into pointless arguments about the problems of everyday life rather than look for the truth. They would also attempt to make a man who doesn't study philosophy but studies practical affairs second guess himself. No matter what side of the argument the man would speak about the philosopher would take the other side. The distinction made in paragraph one is that nature and custom are antagonistic to each other. Nature being the order and behavior of all living things that make up the universe, and custom meaning the everyday habits that have fallen upon society. I feel that they are
The weak don't make the laws to try and rule and they don't necessarily benefit from them, but form them in an attempt to keep society more balanced. Callicles says "It is only natural for the nobler and superior man to dominate and rule over the weak and inferior". I agree with this statement. In human societies and even animals, you can tell who is the stronger and more superior of the species. Not always by just the appearance but other characteristics such as how they act and how they carry themselves. I believe that someone can't learn to be a leader or learn to be dominant but is born with it, hence the term "born leader". Someone might learn leadership but the ones that it comes naturally to will always shine