Sophists

1
Sophists

• Brought out the dialectic
• truth emerged from a clash of arguments
• They were cultural relativists
• Truth depends on where you are
• .not a divine source

2
Sophists

• They were (probably) the first to present a
  systematic art of rhetoric
• They were orators, educators, entertainers, and
  advocates
• They made a living by teaching rhetoric
• Pleading court cases
• And writing speeches for others

3
Sophists

• They taught their students to argue either side
  of a case
• This is the dialectic
• Many Greeks viewed them with suspicion

4
Sophists

• The world could always be created linguistically
• Truth is what you say it is
• The best speakers dictate what is and what is not
• Emphasis on personal empowerment
• Emphasis on ethical pragmatism
• Use of dialectic as a teaching tool independent
  of truth
• Emphasis on victory rather than truth

5
Example Eristic rhetoric

• Eristic rhetoric argumentative tricks that
  ignore true meaning
• In order to ensure rhetorical victory
• This bothered others who believed in a
  transcendent truth

6
Threat to Greek society?

• Sophists challenged the notion that Greek culture
  was superior
• There was no absolute truth
• They charged for their services
• They made their knowledge available to anyone (if
  you could pay)
• and this threatened the Greek aristocracy

7
Contrast the Sophistic Approach

• Emphasis on personal empowerment
• Emphasis on ethical pragmatism
• Use of dialectic as a teaching tool independent
  of truth
• Emphasis on victory rather than truth
• .and the Platonic Approach
• Sacrifice personal gain for truth and civic or
  social good
• Emphasis on dialogue as tool to pursue truth
• Emphasis on victory only as bi-product of
  discovery of truth

8
Criticism of Sophists

• Encouraged students to not conform to the inner
  need to be good
• Not to conform to traditional rules
• Encouraged to pursue their success without
  remorse or conscience