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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