2.2-GREEK DEPTH- Sophists and Socrates

who were the Sophists

experts in a field that travel around Greece and offer their wisdom for money. Aspiring politicians were taught how to argue either side of a case

what did Xenophon believe about Sophists

Didn’t believe you could teach wisdom “prostitutes you might say”

what did Plato think about Sophists

they manipulate the use of dialectic and focus on the argument they want to promote (even though they claim to search for the truth)

plot of Aristophanes’ Clouds

Pheidippides is addicted to gambling and in debt so his father Strepsiades decides to send his son to the Thinkery, Socrates school, so he can be trained in rhetoric and talk his way out of debts

How does Aristphanes represent Sophists and Socrates and why

Sophists are dangerous, absurd and morally corrupting.

Socrates is a ridiculous figure that “walks on air” and has his head in the clouds

Aristophanes defending the traditional view that Sophists were corrupting the youth

what is the discussion between Socrates ad Gorgias in Plato’s dialogue

• Socrates claims sophist teachings are dangerous and they can lead to poor intensions

• Gorgias claims to rhetorician would use their skills unfairly

• Overall, Socrates claims decisions are made based on the oratory skills rather than what’s right for Athens

What was the Ecomium of Helen

A show speech Gorgias used to attract students to his school.

• Gorgias claimed seductive powers of language

• word were seen as having incantatory effects on the audience

Who was Protagoras

Father of sophistry (first one that charged)

Man is the measure of all things

Who was Gorgias

seen as the father of rhetoric and was an extreme skeptic

What is the metaphore of the beast in Plato’s republic

A sophist is someone studying a beast to learn its moods and how to flatter it

What is the metaphore of the ship in Platos republic

true navigator (phiosopher) is ignored while sailors (politicians) fight to control the ship (demos)

What were Socrates indicments

Corruption of the youth

Not recognising state Gods

Introducing new dieties

What were Socrates main arguements used in the Apoloogy

Slander has made him guilty before the trial even begun

believes in state gods- shows Miletus’ contradiction of being athiest yet also introducing new dieties

He is a gadfly- sent to question and annoy Athens- to sting people into awarnes

in what ways was socrates more focused on justifying his principles than securing his acquital

• rejected normal court tactics- would appeal to sympathy

• Even if acquited he would continue to philosophise

• suggested he deserved to be held at Prytaneum (a civic honour)- was a challenge to the court