The Nietzsche Podcast 111: Protagoras, The Sophists & The Art of Rhetoric
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Mar 4, 2025 This discussion dives into the intriguing world of Protagoras and the Sophists, illuminating how rhetoric influenced ancient Greek thought. It examines the bold claim that 'man is the measure of all things' and what that means for knowledge. The podcast also tackles the compelling debate on whether virtue can be taught through society, contrasting Protagoras's and Socrates's philosophies. Additionally, it looks at the myths of Prometheus and the essential role of rhetoric in shaping political realities from legends like Alexander and Caesar.
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Modern View of Rhetoric
- Rhetoric is often seen as deceptive speech designed to persuade rather than reveal truth.
- This negative view is largely shaped by Socratic and Platonic critiques of sophistry and rhetoric.
Sophists and Rhetoric as Art
- Sophists were ancient Greek teachers who offered instruction in all useful arts, notably rhetoric.
- They taught speech as an aesthetic art, valuing how a speech appears and affects the audience.
Socratic Criticism of Sophists
- Socrates opposed sophists for charging fees and for separating rhetoric from true philosophical dialectic.
- He saw dialectic as the path to knowledge, while rhetoric was mere stylistic flourishes without pursuit of truth.