path of philosophical thought in all eras developed on a similar principle to replace every universal models come teachings that rise up sharply against all metaphysics and refer to the limitations of consciousness and cognition.Descartes and Leibniz came to Immanuel Kant, with the materialists of the nineteenth century, and Hegel - positivists.In ancient Greece, the cradle of all the sciences, and philosophy in particular, such a situation was permanent.One school criticize and refute the other, and then vice versa.However, there were people who proposed an original solution of all disputes, if all schools of thought in the theories contradict each other, then maybe all of their "facts" and "arguments" are merely "opinions"?After all, in actual fact, no one has seen or Jehovah, or God the Creator, no finite or infinite being.Sophistry - this is exactly the same "pill" against the endless philosophical wars.
Who are the sophists?
best-known representatives of this school were Protagoras, Antiphon, Hippias, Gorgias, Prodicus, Likofron.Sophistry - a system that focuses on the teaching of virtue, wisdom, oratory and management of foundations.Among contemporary figures very close to it there is a Dale Carnegie.Antique sophistry is the first system, which was represented by the so-called "sellers of knowledge", which brought an innovative type of relationship between students and learning - peer communication and mutually beneficial relationship.
What did the representatives of this school of thought?
Sophists taught to convince people to think for themselves and have been associated with the emergence of democracy in many cities in Greece.They proclaimed the fundamental principle of equality between people, we have put forward theories and concepts, which ultimately laid the foundation for the construction of modern relations in the field of law and public administration.Sophistry - is the foundation for psychology, scientific philology, logic, theories of the origin of religions.
What does the term "sophist"?
Sophistry - a school of thought that has spread to ancient Greece.This doctrine was founded by scientists from around the Greek polis of Athens in the second half of the fifth century BC.The term "sophist" is translated from the Greek as "wise."So called professional teachers, teaching people the art of public speaking.Unfortunately, the writings of the founding fathers are almost completely lost, until today almost nothing came.However, with the help of indirect evidence was found that this caste of philosophers did not attempt to create a unified system of education and knowledge.They do not attach any importance to the systematization of learning.The purpose of the Sophists was one - to teach students to argue and to open a discussion.It is therefore considered that the classical sophistry in philosophy - the doctrine aimed at rhetoric.
«Older" sophists
Based on the historical sequence, we can talk about the existence of two trends - "senior" and "junior" philosophers sophism."Senior" (Gorgias, Protagoras, Antiphon) sophists were explorers issues of ethics, politics, law, the state.Relativism of Protagoras, who claimed that "man - the measure of things" brought to this school denial of truth in its objective form.According to the concepts "senior" Sophists, matter - is variable and fluid, and since it is such, that perception is transformed and changes constantly.It follows that the true essence of the matter lies the phenomena objectively present that is not possible, so you can talk about it as you like.Antique sophistry "senior" is entirely subjective and postulates the relativity of knowledge and expertise.All authors of this trend can be traced idea that existence itself does not exist, as knowledge about it objectively impossible to pass on to others.
«Junior» sophists
The "junior" members of this school of thought, which include Crete Alkidama, Likofron, Polemon, Hippodamus and Frazimaha, sophistry - is "juggling" concepts and terms, the use of false trickswhich would have proved both a lie and the truth.In Greek, the word "sophistry" means "cunning", which is reflected in the activities of the followers of this doctrine as the use of verbal tricks that mislead.Widespread false arguments based on violation of logic.
methodological principle sophistry
What sophistry in terms of its use?A popular method is the "quadrupling" that violates the principle of the syllogism that must be no more than three terms.Hence, it creates a false argument, which uses non-identity of apparently similar concepts.For example: "The thief does not want to buy anything unnecessary.The acquisition of something good - it's good business.Hence, the thief eager to do a good deed. "It is also a popular method - is a collective term average when syllogistic inferences violated terms of volume distribution.For example: diplomats - people, some people play the violin, all the diplomats play the violin.
