Question

How were the Sophists different from other philosophers of Ancient Greece? Make sure to explain your answer.

Answer 1

Some ways the Sophists and the Philosophers differ are that the sophists were a category of teachers who specialized in using the techniques of philosophy and rhetoric for the reason of teaching. Rhetoric was the art of skillful speaking. Determined men used clever and persuasive Rhetoric to advance their careers. The older citizens of sophist were accused of undermining traditional Greek values. The Philosophers were thinkers that challenged beliefs and used observation as well as a reason to find causes for events. Some subjects that the Philosophers explored were mathematics and music. The Philosophers were also interested in ethics and morality.

Answer 2

The sophists never set up a proper school. These are the differences with a philosopher:

The Sophist: an itinerant man who pretended to know him know everything. He said he knew and knew "the truth".

The Philosopher: a man who thinks, questions, analyzes and concludes his concepts about reality, life, existence and never claims to "know everything", but rather, he is in search of truth, because he recognizes that those who say " to know it truthfully "or that" they know where is the truth? ", those are the ones who are furthest from it. Those who claim to "know the truth" or "own the truth" are the false ones.

The Sophist: by pretending to "know everything", he went to the public square and sought to teach his "false knowledge" in exchange for money.

The Philosopher: does not seek to teach "false knowledge", but rather seeks to teach logic and coherence of what is thought to what is said or what is said and not practiced in life. The philosopher recognizes that a life without questioning does not deserve to be lived.

The Sophist: he used to preach new "ideals" for the mental formation of the Athenian citizen, because they used to teach that everyone who wants to succeed in public life has to know how to IMPOSE and CONVINCE in the assemblies of the people, everything that he affirms as true, it is not.

The Philosopher: never seeks to impose anything, but seeks to EXHIBIT his arguments, which are not inspired by the lie, but in the reason, in the logic, in the inductive-deductive processes of human knowledge and thereby specify much better the issues raised.

The Sophist: he had to find the way (even resorting to lies) of how to CONVINCE others that his "truth" is "the truth." It should also be remembered that when the sophist persuades and convinces, it is because he has only touched points. Its convenience, and not the love of knowledge. The sophist did not care if what he taught was good or not, period.

The Philosopher: he speaks well, and eloquently, but when it comes to differentiating the philosopher from the sophist, we must be aware that the philosopher can teach even if they do not pay him, while the sophist will always seek to be paid before teaching.

The Sophist: he will talk about things that he claims "to know" but he does not care if what he teaches is true or not, as long as he is paid.

The Philosopher: he will teach things that he has learnt through the researches carried out and he will gladly share them with his friends, without expecting any retribution.