Sophists philosophy appears in a very interesting period in the history of Greece.This is the era of the domination of the so-called ancient democracy, when the fate of the city-states were often settled in the squares.Greek policies - specific autonomous republic with its control - included residents of the main city and the surrounding countryside.During the solution of important problems of the state for the residents came to the public meetings.Enormous role played by the courts, where it was necessary to defend their point of view.The ability to speak clearly and beautifully, as well as to lead other people to make a very important and urgent.It is in these conditions and appear a teacher of life and wisdom.
Sophists philosophy (briefly) and the origin of the term
The very name of the Greek traditional discourse of the time.No wonder the term "philosophy" means love of wisdom.But that is typical for this school?The name itself is not new.The ancient Greek word "sofistes" determined people, thoroughly knowledgeable and able to do anything.So we could name and artist, and a good master, and sage.In short, the connoisseur.But from the fifth century BC, the term has become one of the main characteristics of the phenomenon we know as ancient philosophy.The sophists were expert in rhetoric.
meaning training
ability to speak clearly - this is one of the major arts of ancient democracy, vital in order to make a public career.Developing skills logically and correctly express their thoughts becomes the basis of education, especially for future politicians.And at the forefront of eloquence, which was considered the queen of the arts.After all, in which shell you clothe your words, often a cause of your success.Thus, the Sophists became teachers who wanted the right to think, speak and do.They were looking for wealthy young men who wanted to go far in the political sense, or do other civil stunning career.
Feature
Since rhetoric and eloquence were very much in demand in society, these modern sages began to charge a fee for their services, which is reflected in historical sources.Their originality consists in the fact that the philosophy of the sophists practically abandoned its religious justification provisions.And what they were they?After sophists - a practice training politicians.In addition, they laid the foundations of a certain modern culture.For example, to monitor the proper rhetoric, they have developed standards of literary Greek.These wise men put on the new issues that have long wondered ancient philosophy.The Sophists also another look at many of the problems which had not previously noticed.What is man, society and knowledge in general?How are absolute, our ideas about the world and nature, and is it possible at all?
Senior
Sophists, as a phenomenon in the history of thought, can be divided into two groups.The first - the so-called "senior".It includes all the main achievements attributed to this philosophical direction."Seniors' contemporaries were many other great sages.They lived during the time of the Pythagorean Philolaus, representatives of Eleatic school of Zeno and Melissa, natural philosophers Empedocles, Anaxagoras and Leucippus.They represented rather a set of techniques, rather than any uniform to school or for.If you try to characterize them as a whole, we can see that they are the heirs of the naturalists as they try to explain everything there is a rational reason indicated on the relativity of all things, concepts and phenomena, as well as to put into question the foundations of contemporary morality.The philosophy of the sophists of the older generation was developed Protagoras, Gorgias, Gippiem, Prodicus, Antiphon and Kseniadom.About the most interesting we will try to tell you more.
Protagoras
This philosopher known to most.We even know the years of his life.According to some sources, he was born in 481 BC and died in 411. He was born in the market town of Abdera was a disciple of the famous Democritus.Thinking latter had a significant impact on the Protagoras.The doctrine of atoms and the void, and the plurality of worlds, constantly dying and emerging again, he developed the idea of the relativity of things.The philosophy of the Sophists has since become a symbol of relativism.The matter is transient and constantly changing, and if something dies, something else comes in his place.This is our world, Protagoras argued.And with knowledge.Every concept can be given a contrary interpretation.We also know that Protagoras was the author of atheistic works "of the gods."It was burned down, and the philosopher condemned to exile.
"Junior"
these sages are not very fond of classical ancient philosophy.The Sophists are brought in the image of its masters artful liars."Teachers imaginary wisdom" - Aristotle spoke about them.Among these philosophers may be called names such as alkyd, Trasimeno, Crete, Callicles.They professed extreme relativism and came to the conclusion that the concept of good and evil do not differ from each other.What may be good for one person is bad for another.In addition, the establishment of people's very different from natural laws.If the latter are immutable, the first vary widely, depending on ethnicity and culture, and are a kind of agreement.Therefore, our conception of justice is often manifested in a strong rule of law.We make people slaves, but that all men are born free.History appreciate their teaching.For example, Hegel said that these sages have done much for the birth of dialectics.
Oh man
Even Protagoras declared that the people are the measure of all.What exists and what is not.Because everything that we talk about the truth - it is just someone's opinion.The problem of man in the philosophy of the Sophists appeared just as the discovery of subjectivity.Similar theses developed and Gorgias.This sage was a disciple of Empedocles.According to the ancient author Sextus Empiricus, Gorgias advanced three positions.The first one was devoted to the fact that nothing actually exists.The second was that if something is in reality, it is impossible to know.And the third was the result of the first two.If we could prove that something exists, and it can be known, then we convey our idea of it can not be very exactly."Masters of Wisdom" declared themselves cosmopolitans, because they believed that the birthplace of the person, where it is best.Therefore, they are often accused of lacking patriotism shtetl polis.
Religion
Sophists were known to ridicule the faith in the gods, and a critical attitude towards them.Protagoras, as mentioned above, I did not know whether there is a higher power."The question is not clear to me - he wrote - and human life will not be enough to explore it to the end."A representative of the "younger" generation of Sophists Critias was nicknamed atheist.In his work "Sisyphus", he declared all religion an invention, which is used cunning to impose their laws fools.Morality is not installed by the gods, and fixed people.If a person knows that he was no one was watching, he easily breaks all established norms.The philosophy of the Sophists and Socrates, who also criticized the public morals and religion is often perceived not educated the public as one and the same.No wonder Aristophanes wrote a comedy in which the teacher made fun of Plato, ascribing unusual views.
Ancient philosophy, Socrates and the sophists
These sages made an object of ridicule and criticism from his contemporaries.One of the harshest opponents of the Sophists Socrates.He differed from them in matters of faith in God and virtue.He believed that the discussion is for the search for truth, not in order to show the beauty of the arguments that the terms should determine the nature of things, and not just be beautiful words, meaningful one thing after another.In addition, Socrates was a supporter of absolute good and evil.The latter, in his opinion, is solely from ignorance.The philosophy of the Sophists and Socrates has thus, and similarities and differences.They were enemies, but in something and allies.If Hegel believed that "teachers of wisdom" did a lot for the foundation of the dialectic, Socrates admits her "father."Sophists drew attention to the subjectivity of truth.Socrates felt that the last born in disputes.
what has become sophists
can say that all of these diverse currents have created the prerequisites for the development of many subsequent phenomena in the human world view.For example, of the above reflections on the subjectivity of opinion and influence the perception of the truth of the person born anthropological philosophy.The Sophists and Socrates stood at its source.Strictly speaking, even social rejection, a blow to him, was of the same nature.Athenian audience at that time was not very well-disposed towards intellectuals and tried everything to equalize the taste of the crowd.Gradually, however, from the teachings of the Sophists began to fade own wisdom.They are increasingly practiced not in the philosophy, but the ability to equally well argue different points of view.Their schools have become literary circles where writers honed his eloquence, not politics.Sophistry as a phenomenon completely extinguished after the era of Aristotle, although the stories were attempts to revive it, including in ancient Rome.But these attempts were turned into a purely intellectual games rich people and had neither popularity nor future.Our modern understanding of the word "sophistry" comes from this very recent phenomenon, which has been virtually emasculated, and lost its attraction inherent to its founder.
