
087 Rhetoric and the Sophists
The History of Ancient Greece
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The Influence of the Sophists on Philosophy
A sophist is intended for those who use deceptive in a high-falutin style of rhetoric to win arguments. There are very few writings from the first generation of sophists, because either they didn't write anything or what they did write hasn't survived. Their teachings had a huge influence on philosophical thought in 5th century BC Athens, particularly on Socrates and Plato. As a whole, Plato treated them with a mixture of humor, fascination, and disdain.
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