Sophists (pt 1)

Question 1

Who were the sophists?

Answer 1

1. They turned away from philosophy and moved towards rhetoric
2. Made worse argument seem better
3. Corrupted the Athenians

Question 2

What was a common charge against the Sophists?

Answer 2

They could make “the worse argument seem the better.”

Question 3

Who was Protagoras and what was his famous quote?

Answer 3

1. A sophist and father of ancient humanism

2. “Man is the measure of all things”

Question 4

Who was Gorgias and what did he believe?

Answer 4

1. Sophist and early Skeptic

2. The right is whatever works to advances your own interests (ie pragmatism)

Question 5

Who was Thrasymachus [thru-sym-achus; Θρασύμαχος]?

And what did he believe?

Answer 5

1. Α Sophist who attacked the quest for justice
2. Held to the philosophy “might is right”
3. Justice is what advances the interest of the powerful

Question 6

Why did rhetoric become important in Athens?

Answer 6

1. Athens had recently become democratic,
2. Rhetoric became important for politicians getting elected, promoting laws, and making a case in the jury system

Question 7

What is one of the reasons that the Sophists play such an important role in the history of philosophy?

Answer 7

1. Socrates and Plato formulated their philosophies in direct response to the danger that the Sophists represented