Sophists

=Sophists =

Gorgias.// Encomium of Helen //
= =


 * “Encomium of Helen” would have been very controversial – Helen would have been one of the most hated women in Greece – Apologia for Helen – did it to show off
 * use **dialectic** in teaching – inventing arguments for and against a proposition
 * function of language in inducing belief
 * Linguistic devices for manipulation – poetic devices
 * language can be crafted for specific purposes – powerful speech is not simply the result of the speaker’s inspiration or the audience’s transport
 * Believed that provisional knowledge is the only knowledge we can attain – no such thing as transcendent knowledge
 * Rhetoric helps us understand the world through ethos and pathos-based appeals
 * language can be crafted to suit particular purposes

Isocrates. "Antidosis"

 * Was a contemporary of Plato who opened the first school of rhetoric in Athens.
 * Saw himself primarily as an educator
 * Sophistic - Education can improve the natural talents of all comers – and that it should be useful to the state
 * wanted to create civic leaders
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Did not claim to impart wisdom – counter Sophists //and// Plato
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Morality
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">rhetoric is used to speak noble, virtuous ideas and implement them in civic society
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">morality is not taught but is inspired by teachers (emulation)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Importance of amplification and smoothness of style
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">First to write down and circulate speeches
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">3 factors of rhetorical training – three elements requisite to being a valuable citizen
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">natural talent
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">extensive practice in varied situations
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">education in basic principles of rhetoric
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Rhetoric should be used to advance Greek ideas and institutions