The Sophists

The Sophists were ancient Greek teachers and thinkers around the 5th century BCE who specialized in rhetoric, or persuasive speaking. They taught skills valuable for civic life, such as argumentation and debate, often for pay. While they emphasized effective communication and skepticism of absolute truth, their approach sometimes prioritized winning arguments over moral or philosophical accuracy. Their teachings influenced rhetoric and education, but they also faced criticism for perceived relativism and superficiality. Overall, the Sophists played a key role in developing skills essential for engaging in public discourse and democratic participation.