The Sophist Movement

In Ancient Athens, a new form of philosophy formed to help politicians gain power through persuasion. This philosophy, Sophism, became an art of speech making and cross-examination. It consists of using logic and science to give a reasonable answer to the unexplainable. However, sophism has also created much controversy amongst the Athenians; some considered it as a form of Atheism. The main theme of this essay is the rise of the Sophist movement and how it was both beneficial and controversial to the Athenian society. In this essay, I shall discuss the aspects of Sophism and how it has affected the Athenian society. My essay will be divided into three main body parts to answer three questions. In part I, I shall discuss of what Sophism is as a system of education. What does it teach? In part II, I shall discuss of how it relates with religion. More specifically, it will be based on how Sophism deals with Oracles and Omens. Furthermore, I shall discuss of how Sophists make their decisions without relying on oracles and omens. I shall also use famous Athenian Sophists such as Pericles to support my theme in both parts. The final part will be based on all the information I gained to answer the next question: Is Socrates is a sophist or not? I shall prove to what extent will this philosopher be considered a Sophist? The only sources I shall use to prove my thesis are The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives by Plutarch, History of Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, and The Last day of Socrates by Plato, and the notes I took from the lectures given by Professor Trumbach.

I

With the rise of Democratic polis, the mid-fifth century Athenian could not gain power through aggressive means. Instead, speaking skills were adapted to the needs of the public and political life, much of which revolved around the use of oratory as the medium through which political decisions were made and through which philosophical ideas were developed and spread. This has led to the Sophist movement, a philosophy that used rhetoric and logical thinking to help Athenian aristocrats gain further political powers. The Sophists were a group of intellectual teachers of rhetoric and logical thinking. They were foreigners traveled from city to city making public displays to attract students who were then charged a large fee for their education. These sophist teachings mainly consisted of Rhetoric, Science (Biology and Astronomy), and Cross-examination (Tr). They would teach these individuals psychology to play with people's emotions (Tr). However, the sophism philosophy contains criticism of religion and ethics. Though some sophists were apparently as religious as the rest of the Athenians, many held atheistic or agnostic views

Rhetoric and cross-examination were of great importance to young nobleman's who seek political office. Rhetoric was comprehended as a technique of persuasion through the use of orations. It not only incorporates good use of language, but also utilizes psychology (Tr). These sophists performed their works before an audience, usually in the context of a competition or contest for fame, to gain political influence. They persuaded audience, playing with their emotions, to vote in favor of their arguments (Tr). Using cross-examination and rhetoric, a sophist was able to deceive the audience into believing that their weak argument is a strong argument. In addition, cross-examination was important for democracy as that it gave unattractive views a chance to be heard in the Athenian assembly (Tr).

One of the greatest Athenian sophists known for his use of rhetoric to gain political influence was Pericles. Pericles was thought by three sophists himself. They were Damon, Zeno of Eleatic, and his favorite, Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (Plutarch, 168). Damon appears to have been a sophist of the highest order, who used his musical teachings as a screen to conceal his real talents form the world in general; in fact, it was he who trained Pericles for his political contests (Plutarch, 168). Under Zeno, Pericles studied natural philosophy and cross-examination (Plutarch, 168). But there was one man more closely associated with Pericles than any other, who did most to clothe him with a majestic bearing that was more potent than any demagogue's appeal, and who helped to develop the natural dignity of his character to the highest degree. This was Anaxagoras of Clazomenae, who was first to dethrone Chance and Necessity and set up pure Intelligence as their place in as the principle law and order which informs the universe (Plutarch 169).

It was also under Anaxagorus that Pericles was able to excel all other speakers. Through his training to the art of oratory, he was able to equip himself with a style of speaking which harmonized with his mode of life and the grandeur of his ideals (Plutarch 172). During the beginning of Pericles career, he wanted to measure himself against Cimon's reputation, and he therefore set out to win the favor of the people (Plutarch 174). Cimon was a rich man, so he was able to buy popularity from his people; however, Pericles did not have as much wealth. Therefore, he decided to turn his attention to the distribution of public wealth. Using the advice of Damonides of the deme of Oa, Pericles received allowance by establishing public festivals, jury fees, and grants. He kept providing activities and entertainment for the people as well as public buildings. Generally, Pericles accomplished all this by spending the public's money and soon led to Cimon being ostracized (Plutarch 174).

A later opponent of Pericles was Thucydides, the son of Melesias. He accused Pericles of squandering the public's money and letting the national revenue run to waste (Plutarch 181). Pericles then questions the people in the Assembly if he is spending too much and they reply saying "far too much" (Plutarch 181). Using rhetoric and bluffing, Pericles said that he would pay for all the expenses as long as his name was put on all the public buildings. The Athenians, being very proud, fell into his trap and allowed him to draw freely out of the public funds. They were ambitious and wanted their share of the glory. After Pericles won his way, he sends Thucydides and the opposing party to exile and gives himself full power (Plutarch 182).

Pericles' teacher, Zeno, perfected the technique of cross-exemption and so was able to "corner" his opponents. He was described as having a "double-edged tongue" and the ability to dispute either side of an argument (Plutarch 168). The idea of the ability to argue with an irresistible fury is shown in The Melian Dialogue, in which Melians argue with the Athenians that their neutrality in the Peloponnesian war be respected. At many points in the text the Melians offer reasons that their position is stronger

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