Sophists and Rhetoric Flashcards
Who is regarded as the father of rhetoric?
Gorgias of Leontini
In what year did Gorgias come to Athens?
427
What type of speech is the Encomium of Helen?
Rhetorical display speech
What is Gorgias’ key argument regarding Helen of Troy?
Helen could not be held responsible for her elopement or the war due to being the weaker party.
List the four factors Gorgias suggests that could have persuaded Helen to elope.
- The gods
- Physical force
- Love
- Speech
How does Gorgias compare the effect of speech on the mind?
To the effect of drugs on the body
True or False: Socrates charged for his services.
False
Which two philosophers are noted for their bias against the sophists?
- Plato
- Xenophon
What did Hippias boast about in Plato’s Hippias Major?
The vast riches he is able to make from his profession
How did Socrates compare sophists to another profession?
To prostitutes
What was one major criticism Plato had of the sophists?
They did not teach pupils to regard the truth of what they were saying.
Fill in the blank: The term ‘sophistry’ is derived from the understanding of the sophists’ _______.
art
According to Plato, who can be more persuasive in front of an ignorant audience?
The ignorant over the expert
What does Aristotle criticize about the sophists’ teaching?
The deceptive nature of their teaching
What genre is Aristotle’s work ‘Rhetoric’?
Political treatise
