Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1999 12:22:29 -0700 (MST)
From: Jean M Hazell <jhazell-AT-U.Arizona.EDU>
Subject: Re: Sophists


I'm in the middle of upending my life so the Cliff Notes of the Cliff
Notes follow:

Plato generally referred to Protagoras, Gorgias, Prodicus, and Hippias as
"The Sophists".  According to Edward Schiappa in "Sophistic Rhetoric:
Oasis or Mirage," Plato generally used the term "Sophist" in referring to
fourth-centuray rivals, not fifth century sophists.  Other authors
included Socrates, Isocrates, Eudoxus, and Diogenes Laertius in the
'canon' of Sophists. This points out the need to be aware of who is using
the term and which sophist is being discussed.

"Sophist" has been used by Plato as the most base orator, proficient in
flowery erudition and without any knowledge of truth. He excorciated the
Sophists whom he identified as itinerant teachers willing to teach
rhetoric wihtou the basis of truth - Plato's truth - and to do so for
'fees'.  However, this negative notion of sophistic rhetoric is open to
question as well. Much of the 'stylistic' of sophistic rhetoric was
attributed to Gorgias' poetic style, yet critics have acknowledged that
Gorgias was a unique orator among public speakers of his time.

Much work has been done lately underscoring the marginalization of
'sophists' by early philosophers. For a better examination of the sophists
than this post, refer to :

Jarratt, Susan C. _Rereading the Sophists: Classical Rhetoric Refigured._
Carbondale: Southern Illinois U.P., 1991.

Crowly, sharon. "A Plea for the Revival of Sophistry." Rhetoric Review 7
(1989): 318-34.

Schiappa, Edward. "Sophistic Rhetoric: Oasis or Mirage?" _Landmark Essays
on Classical Greek Rhetoric_. Ed. Edward Schiappa. California: Hermagoras
Pres. 1994.

Jean