We explain who the most important sophists were in philosophy and their relationship with Socrates. Also, what is a sophist today.
Who were the sophists?
The term sophist comes from the Ancient Greece, especially of the democratic Athens of century V a. C., in which the first schools of natural philosophers flourished, known as the sophists or as the pre-Socratic philosophers (that is, before Socrates, the first great poet of Greek antiquity).
The origin of the term sophist goes back to the Greek words sophia, "Wisdom", and sophós, "Wise", judging by the texts surviving ancient Iliad), in which it is common to see it associated with concepts such as "ingenuity", "talent" or various forms of practical intelligence in a generic sense. It was, for example, the term with which the Seven Sages of Greece of the 7th and 6th centuries BC were named. C.
However, in the works of Plato (c. 427 - 347 BC) and his disciple Aristotle (384 - 322 BC), the meaning of the term sophist will begin to change. In Platonic dialogues, for example, that name is used in the sense of "Professional Teacher", since the sophists roamed Greece imparting the most diverse knowledge and knowledge.
But since poets and philosophers charged for their services, they were accused of pursuing through debate not the truthbut only argumentative victory, even through methods deceptive or dishonest thinking. A claim made by their contemporaries, such as Pindar (c. 518 - 438 BC) or Plato's own teacher: Socrates (470 - 399 BC).
So, from the V century BC. C., the term sophist began to be used in the sense of a phony, charlatan or philosopher willing to give in to public opinion, instead of committing to the truth. This last meaning was perpetuated until the times of the Roman Empire, applied not only to philosophers but also to writers, poets, speakers and teachers of rhetoric alike, many of whom were part of the Second Sophistic Movement.
Current use of the term "sophist"
The general meaning of the term sophist corresponds to that of charlatan or conceptual juggler. However, many of the authors of the philosophy of the twentieth century such as Michel Onfray or Giorgio Colli have vindicated the importance of the sophists, in the light of their contributions to the tradition of Western thought.
Major sophists
Some of the main sophists of the Greek tradition were:
- Protagoras of Abdera (c. 485 - c. 411 BC). One of the main sophists of the 5th century BC. C., was a thinker, traveler and master of rhetoric who roamed Greece charging high fees to teach the correct use of words (orthoepia). He was known to Socrates and a friend of Pericles, and along with Gorgias he was the only sophist respected by Plato and Aristotle.
- Gorgias of Leontinos (483 - 375 BC). Disciple of Empedocles and connoisseur of the thought of Zeno of Elea and Parmenides, Gorgias was another of the great Greek sophists, respected as a philosopher even by his detractors. Some attribute to him the role of father of oratory and founder of the epidemic, and he passed away with more than a hundred years.
- Prodigal of Ceos (465 - 395 BC). An early generation sophist and contemporary of Socrates, whose teachings they focused on the grammar and rhetoric. None of his works survived the time, but there are numerous references in works by other authors, some even with quoted fragments. Apparently among his interests were astronomy, the language, the ethics and the religion.
- Hippias of Elis (c. 460 - c. 400 BC). One of the sophists of the first generations and prominent geometrist, discoverer of the quadratic, with which he gave an answer to central problems of Greek geometry. He is also credited with a great memory and the invention of numerous mnemonic rules.
- Thrasymachus of Chalcedon (459 - 400 BC). Little is known about the life of this sophist, who appears in Platonic dialogues and in the Republic of Plato, particularly in his reflections on the role of Justice. Of the rest, it is known about his life thanks to the references of a lost work of the comedian Aristophanes and in the work of Clement of Alexandria.
Socrates and the Sophists
The antagonism that existed between the sophist philosophers and the famous Socrates, first of the great thinkers of the Greek tradition (and teacher, among many, of Plato) is known. This difference manifested itself in different points of view, and it was the pillar of the discredit that later would be had to the sophists. Among these differences we can highlight:
- The sophists charged for the teaching of their knowledge and access to "the truth," while Socrates believed that the truth could not be taught, and conversed with any Athenian who was willing.
- The sophists possessed encyclopedic knowledge and used debate as a teaching method, while Socrates believed in the dialogue (especially walking, that's why he was nicknamed the peripatetic), and questions and answers oriented as a teaching method.
- For the sophists, the primary task was the persuasion of the other, through arguments logicians or tricks designed to thrill your audience; while Socrates was firmly committed to obtaining the truth, unpopular as it was.
- In general, the sophists were critical of the tradition Greek religious; while Socrates was devoted to the law and he felt strongly linked to Athens and its traditions.