Definitional (Boxing Plato's Shadow)

Throughout time, the study of communication and its uses have evolved from strictly governmental purposes t0 an art form involving persuasion, entertainment, and information. Communication has also evolved from a upper class skill to a skill used by everyone for a variety of purposes. Even though it is clear that communication has evolved over time, the meaning of communication and its definition is still somewhat unclear. It has been through the many that have come before us and their talented insights that have brought us to today's definition of communication. While communication has become a simultaneous exchange of a message between two or more people, there are still so many aspects of communication that affect its definition and meaning. 

Before communication could become known as this simultaneous exchange, it had to encounter many battles and argumentative debates over its possible meaning. Originating in Athens, communication was used for voicing one's opinion on specific subject matter. Switching to a democratic government, the citizens of Athens were given the change to speak out, argue for justice, and be heard. They were given the opportunity to use their voices as commoners. These people were given a choice to use verbal combat instead of violence. Here is where the sophists play a role. Even though commoners were given this "voice," it was difficult to use and to be take seriously because of a lack of proper training and knowledge. This newfound use for communication created a market for skill and knowledge, but most importantly it created a job market for the sophists, or educators. Sophists, such as Corax, Protagoras, Gorgias, and Hippias, knew the power involved in communication; therefore, they developed the idea of public speaking to voice one's opinion, also known as rhetoric. 

Even though these sophists were able to develop this idea of rhetoric and explained its role in communication, it is still difficult to completely define communication today. The sophists showed us the commoners could use this tactic to share their opinions with others in the community, which is probably why one definition of communication involves the interaction between AT LEAST two or more people. However, it was not until Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates that the definition became more clear with the help of their input on delivery, elocution, and invention. The ideas of the various sophists and these philosophers show that communication has always been a developing concept with many aspects. Since time elapsed between all of these men and their ideas, is it possible that the definition of communication is still evolving and changing as technology and our world changes?