Sophists

Question 1

a. “wise guys”
b. Travelled from city to city
c. Lectured
i. not on the nature of reality and truth
ii. nature of power and persuasion

Answer 1

Sophists

Question 2

a. Belief in accepting traditional customs (success)
i. not true
ii. due to understanding and manipulation (expedient)
b. All customs are relative (relativism)
i. human subjectivity
ii. expediency
c. homo mensura (man is the measure)

Answer 2

Protagoras

Question 3

a. replace philosophy with rhetoric
b. theses in lectures and books
i. there is nothing
ii. if there were anything, no one could know it
iii. if anyone did know it, no one could communicate
c. Proving absurdities = proving anything
d. Teaches us to win arguments
1. Not because of truth about reality
2. Ridiculousness of our theses

Answer 3

Gorgias

Question 4

a. Justice is in the interest of the stronger
i. might makes right
b. Disputes about morality is empty
i. reducible to a struggle of power (exemption)

Answer 4

Thrasymachus

Question 5

a. Clever ruler controls subjects
i. encouraging fear of nonexistent gods

Answer 5

VI. Critias

Question 5

a. Traditional morality
i. clever way for the weak masses
b. Strong should throw shackles
i. “naturally right”
c. power > justice
i. conducive to survival
ii. seek pleasure
c. Moderation is for the weak and feeble

Answer 5

. Callicles

Question 6

I. What is compromised (sophism)

Answer 6

a. subjectivism, skepticism, and nihilism
b. objective reality
c. truth

Question 7

II. Positive side

Answer 7

a. Skilled politicians
i. Contributed to the history of democracy
b. Animosity of history
c. Makes humans aware of themselves rather than cosmos
i. as objects of interest (consideration)