The Doctrines of the Sophists

THE Sophists’ written works, quoted extracts and summaries of which were circulating in the city, more than confirmed the fears of the Athenians. The doctrines that they reflected were by no means confined to the subject of teaching rhetoric: they boldly rejected the existing traditions, and their potential power to shock was considerable. At this point, we enter upon new ground. These were truly philosophical doctrines, closely and confidently argued and every bit as audacious as the Sophists’ activities in the sphere of teaching. It is important to make this absolutely clear, for the Sophists’ doctrines should not be underestimated as a result of being associated with their teaching activities. Conscious of the practical aspect of the lessons that the Sophists gave and the arbitrary methods that, as masters of rhetoric, they used to show off their ability to defend an antithesis to every thesis, some critics have been led to minimize the importance of the Sophists’ thought, despite the fact that it could hardly be more rigorous. Others have also been influenced by Plato and much affected by the contrast between his philosophical rigour and the more practical character of the Sophists’ thinking. Hence the idea that has arisen that these teachers had no personal doctrines but just adopted those which suited their own professional interests.

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