Subject: BHA: sophistry
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 13:26:03 -0500
From: "Moodey, Richard W" <MOODEY001-AT-gannon.edu>



Hi Tobin,

You wrote:

I wasn't exactly defending Sophism, so much as saying they made some good points and I share some of their concerns (and that if pressed, many of you would feel likewise).  You're of course quite right that in the situations I described, "the argument for the merits of lying is not the worse argument" -- but I suspect Plato would just consider that to be sophistry.

I reply:

I agree that the Sophists made some good points.  For one thing, it is my understanding that Plato and Isocrates were both dedicated aristocrats (though of different types) who hated the Sophists because they taught commoners how to participate in the political life of Athens.  Rhetoric was a necessary skill for effective participation.  So, were not at least some of the Sophists on the side of democracy?

Dick


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