After reading the first four chapters of The Sophists: Rhetoric, Democracy, and Plato's Idea of Sophistry I have a much better understanding of who the most significant Sophists were, what their main teachings and purposes consisted of, and the contributions they made to society as a whole. The notions of humanism and subjectivity that Sophists introduced to Greek society were their most valuable contribution. Although Athenians were not completely receptive of the Sophists notions, it is a great thing that these ideas survived. Consider life in America today without them... Much of our democracy is based around the idea that people are capable of change and that people are allowed to think differently about certain issues because we are each shaped by our own experiences and perceptions.
The current abortion debate is a very relevant example of how these concepts define the foundations of our democracy. The pro-life and pro-choice debate (along with all other contemporary debates) exists because one side is attempting to convince the other side of their truth. Convincing others to agree with you is only possible if the notion of humanism exists --- that people are capable of change. If people are not capable of change, debate would be unnecessary because no one would ever be swayed towards a new direction. In addition, the fact that both sides (pro-life and pro-choice) still exist with great support for each shows the power of subjectivity in our society. This allows others to accept that people may not agree with them but it is because they perceive the issue at hand in a different light based on their individual experiences and opinions. Without the notion of subjectivity, all people would have been forced to agree with one side or the other by now.
After reading about the five most prominent Sophists who were teachers in Ancient Greece, I found it interesting that the oldest teacher, Protagoras, seemed to introduce ideas most similar to our democratic concepts today. His ideas that "virtue could be taught, that men could improve their condition through education, and that competent, educated men deserved society's respect and rewards" seem most similar to the today's democracy (p. 10). Looking at past presidents, most have been very well educated and follow Protagoras' notion that educated men will be the most respected and rewarded. I also found myself considering the jail system in our country as a representation of the idea that virtue can be taught and men can improve their own conditions. If we did not believe this, criminals would most likely be killed immediately upon conviction. The jail system today provides a way to avoid this extreme measure but it only exists because we believe people are capable of change, growth, and learning. After all, the hopes for a criminal placed in jail is that they will come to understand their wrongs and make personal changes so that they may one day leave prison with a second chance. Protagoras' idea that all people are equal before the law is also an accurate representation of our democracy today, which defends the equal rights of all Americans.
As a future law student, the Sophists contributions to debate and the legal realm were interesting to me. Sophists were the first teachers of rhetoric, and in turn, they became the first influencers of debate in court. They unsettled Greek society by suggesting that there are two sides to every argument, authority can be challenged, and speech strategies exist that can influence the opinions of others. Although rhetorical debate in courts today is not as stylistic or poetic as some of the Sophists' teachings were, its roots grew from their teachings of oratory that gave people the skills to deliver speeches powerful enough to influence the courts and the Assembly.
For class discussion:
1. Do you agree that Protagoras' teachings are most in line with our democratic notions today? If not, which of the five Sophists would you suggest is more consistent with America's democratic system and why?
2. Although many of the Sophists' contributions are considered valuable today, the Athenians believed they were the cause of instability in Greek life at the time of their introduction. Do you think the Athenians were justified in their reactions to the Sophists' teachings? Why or why not?
I think your examples of democracy, the jail system, and the debate on abortion were interesting. Your ideas definitely made me realize how common the sophists' ideology and teachings have been popularized in todays society. I especially liked the last sentence of your first paragraph where you mention the idea of change with a natural ability to think differently. I believe the second question you asked at the end of your post is interesting because it deals with the metic idea that was discussed during lecture on Tuesday. To answer your question, I do believe the Athenians reaction to the sophists' teachings was a justifiable reaction. Mainly, the sophists' contribution could be seen as a valuable asset today, but during the time this instability took place the Athenians were traditional individuals meaning that they had probably been educating and following the same philosophies and lifestyles they were taught from earlier generations. To have outsiders come in and begin teaching new ideologies can definitely cause for a great uproar. In relations to present tense, it is the same as todays illegal aliens immigrating from all parts of the world and bringing their cultures and ideologies with them and teaching their ways to citizens of this country. Yes, the sophists meant no harm in any manner, still the fear of change justified the Athenians reactions to the sophists' teachings.
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