His development of rhetoric as an art and then a science established rhetoric as an artful and clever skill in persuasion. Both the oral and written forms were considered tools in the art of persuasion. Rhetoric was thought of as an art because it allowed men to express themselves through more than just facts and solid knowledge but also through emotions. A strong believer in profound thought was Socrates. Socrates taught a technique in the use of rhetoric called dialectic syllogism.
Dialectic syllogism is the pursuit of truth through a series of questions.
Socrates believed that if one asked the correct question the absolute truth could be found. His technique later became known as the Socratic method. In all of his works, philosophical ideas were advanced, discussed, and criticized in the context of a conversation or debate. The most technical approach to rhetoric emphasizes persuasion rather than uncovering the truth. Even Socrates was influenced by rhetoric to the point that he was taken for a Sophist, a mix-up that would play a key factor in his execution trial.