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CSU SPCM 201 - The Sophists

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SPCM 201 1st Edition Lecture 2 Current LectureThe Sophits and Pre-Socratics Ancient Greece Considered “cradle” for western civilization  500-100 B.C.E. We have an image of Greece Doesn’t fit time period  Wasn’t always grand culture Starts small, isolated villages Small city-states (polis) shaved with cultural heritage  Example: 13 American colonies—start separated and eventually become one Mediterranean attacked by persons Agricultural, strong class divisions, not always democratic, limited options for women, slaves Ancient Greece doesn’t = Ancient Athens  City-States in Ancient Greece Sparta, Corinth, Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Syracuse Syracuse is located in Italy (Sicily) “Inventions” of rhetoric  Tyrants of Syracuse story  City is taken over by tyrants Overthrown  No records (can’t prove anything) Court was created to divvy up possessions after 50 years- “naturally good speakers seemed to get more ‘stuff’ then deserved” - Court didn’t have any way to deal with it  Corax and Tisias  Corax, the crow We don’t know if he even existed  Not a lot of evidence  Reputation of naturally good speaking These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. Smart  See within situations - Help people make money Teaches people to speak well and charges money- His students did well which lead to the spread of the system and instruction of rhetoric  What was the “nature” of rhetoric that Corax and Tisias taught?  Who: those who are not natural speakers What: a system of rhetoric  Where: in the court of law When: C.A. 450 B.C.E.  Why: to defend themselves How: did this rhetoric work? Eikos (probability)  The reliance on reason in an uncertain situation, to determine the most likely outcome Eikos  Why does eikos seem like the best form of decision making in the situation in Syracuse?  No witnesses The parable of the weak man and the strong man story  Two men (1 weak, 1 strong) get into a fight Someone stops them and brings them to court Both claim it was not their fault  Weak man says he would not win in a fight. “Look at me! Why would I start a fight” he says  Strong man says he knows he is strong and would not pick a fight knowing he would get trouble Both are probable situations  Weak man has the better argument and wins Syracuse Moves to Athens  Gorgias  Student or friend of Tisias/Corax Sent to Athens to be Syracuse ambassador Very good public speaker Riled up crowds  Improvisation—took on suggestions from the crowd Invited to festivals, ceremonies, etc. to speak Certain way he speaks that is mesmerizing Well regarded, becomes rich and famous Became what we call The Sophists Who were The Sophists?  Group of people who were interested in studying different types of knowledge  Explore human development  The Sophists = “the wise” Traveling band of teachers  Make student successful; including rhetoric Who were The Sophists? (cont.) Teachers  Taught rhetoric—words  Got paid  Students end up being sons of people in high places—aristocrats What does the rhetoric of The Sophists look like?  Similar to Corax Relied on probability  Believed in absolute truth and was unknowledgeable or inaccessible  Also believed in contingent truth  Contingent truth  Let the people decide it’s true Ex: does God exist  Focused on practicalities of human affairs  Urged expertise in dissoi logoi  Means 2 arguments/2 sides Good at teaching this You would be successful if you could argue both sides- Pre-judge the other side- Prepared- Sophists get to pick side  Which ever side that will be more beneficial to them  Get paid (lawyer) Corax began to push rhetoric outside of the court roomThe Encomium of Helen  Who is Helen? Princess that was abducted and taken to Troy Situation started Trojan war What kind of speech do you think an encomium is? Speech to say person is of value, culture, important Speech is given in Helen’s honor by Gorgias Why should Helen be forgiven? She was taken by force Rape Gorgias tried to convince everyone that words are just as powerful as actions Rhetoric can be good but can also be used for bad  Persuasion through words Did she love him? God said it was fate Use rhetoric as a form of self


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