Los Sofistas y Sócrates

Sophists

• The Sophists were itinerant teachers in ancient Greece, primarily during the 5th century BCE.
• They focused on rhetoric, argumentation, and persuasive speaking, emphasizing practical skills for success in public life, particularly politics and law.
• They charged fees for their instruction, making them controversial figures.
• Sophists often questioned absolute truths, highlighting perspective and relative values.
• Key Sophists included Protagoras, Gorgias, and Prodicus, each with distinctive approaches.
• Protagoras famously stated, "Man is the measure of all things."
• Some Sophists prioritized persuasive argumentation, potentially disregarding truth.

Socrates

• Socrates (470-399 BCE), a Greek philosopher from Athens, was a highly influential figure in Western philosophy.
• Socrates didn't write his own works; his ideas are mainly known through Plato's dialogues.
• He utilized the Socratic method, a questioning approach to challenge assumptions, definitions, and beliefs, aiming at reasoned understanding.
• The Socratic method involved a series of questions to probe beliefs and uncover contradictions.
• The method focused on exploring concepts for deeper understanding.
• Socrates believed true knowledge arose through self-discovery guided by ethical reasoning. He famously stated that the unexamined life is not worth living.
• Socrates criticized the Sophists, although not all their work was necessarily dishonest, condemning their perceived emphasis on persuasive rhetoric over genuine knowledge.
• He was tried and executed by drinking hemlock for accusations of corrupting the youth, which stemmed from his questioning of traditional values and beliefs.
• Socrates' discussions with others highlighted clear language, aiming to define key concepts like justice, piety, and virtue.
• His trial and death significantly impacted Western philosophical thought.