The Greek sophists : teachers of virtue (original) (raw)
Related papers
The soul of sophistry: Plato’s “Sophist” 226a9–231b9 revisited
Filosofiske Studier 2007
This paper argues that the so-called 6th definition of the sophist found in the outer part of Plato's "Sophist" is a methodological passage meant to point out how the sophist is to be pursued properly if he is to be distinguished from the philosopher.
Plato’s Use of ‘Sophistēs’: Neither Novel nor Distinct nor Derogatory
Byzantion nea hellás , 2021
In this paper I would like to challenge the received account according to which Plato’s conception of the sophist is either novel, distinct or derogatory. I propose that Plato uses common conceptions of the intellectual to create a rather loose identity for the sophist. Through the available evidence, I hope to show that Plato does not assign a new meaning to the label, but rather uses conventional conceptions of the sophist to create his main argument. I claim that apart from the Sophist, in other dialogues there is no clear conception of what and who the sophist is, no clarity as to what their activity is, and therefore (although there are reasons to suspect about them and their activity), there are no grounds to condemn them. Stemming from a conceptualization of σοφία in terms of knowledge, the σοφιστής is mainly described as someone who knows many things, or an expert in ‘all matters’—a description, we shall see, that precludes finding a single definition. My proposal is that Plato does not construct the hostility against sophists, as some accounts claim, but rather represents this hostility against experts and intellectuals by appealing to popular attitudes against the σοφοί. Importantly, Plato is critical of popular representations of sophists mainly because they are the result of people’s misjudgement or ignorance, from which the prejudice against philosophers also stems.
How the Sophists Taught Virtue
“How the Sophists Taught Virtue: Exhortation and Association,” History of Political Thought 26, no. 1 (2005): 1-20.
The Greek sophists are perhaps most noteworthy in the history of political thought for their claim to be able to teach virtue (aretê) for pay. Socrates, by contrast, claimed not to be able to teach virtue, though his method of elenchus or refutation had a moral-pedagogical dimension that is often said to have rivaled the pedagogical practices of the sophists. The present study examines the sophistic pedagogical methods of exhortation and association, and compares these to the Socratic method of refutation in order to assess their relative effectiveness. The following three conclusions are reached: that Socratic elenchus was probably less effective than either exhortation or association as a method of imparting virtue; that Socrates in fact made use of exhortation and association in addition to elenchus; and, finally, that the sophists’ unique approach to exhortation and association in particular would have made their methods extremely effective and worthy of imitation today.
History in Dispute: The Ancient World. edd. Miller PA & Platter C, Vol. 20: Classical Antiquity and Classical Studies (Detroit: St. James Press) 172-180.
INFLUENCE OF SOPHIST ARETE {RHETORIC} POLITIKE IN MODERN DEMOCRACY ORIGIN AND CONCEPT OF SOPHIST
The sophists were the itinerant professional teachers and intellectuals who frequented Anthens and other Greek Cities in the second half of the fifth century B.C.E. In return for the a fee, the sophists offered young wealthy Greek men on education in arête (Virtue or Excellence), thereby attaining wealth and fame while also arousing significant antipahhty. Prior to fifth century B.C.E., arête was predominantly associated with the aristocratic warrior virtue such as courage and physical strength. In the democratic Anthen of the fifth century B.C.E however, arête was increasingly understood in term of ability to influence the fellow citizens in political gathering through rhetorical persuasion. This work is essential to students who wish to be outstanding in speech making and delivery like wish all politicians