Impression of the Sophists

Based on our class discussion and readings so far, my view of the Sophists has a slightly negative connotation. I think its good that they forwarded rhetoric and helped educate people, but I think they had some downsides. For one, they seem corrupt. They charge people money to teach the act of persuasion, which can be used so that the power of word may overcome justice. I picture the Sophists similar to lawyers, using the power of persuasive speech to help bad people get out of situations.  In the 21st century, I think the Sophists would describe themselves as a sort of Genie or Lawyer, maybe a special kind of tutor. I think they would be largely rejected in today’s world as a scam, unless they were able to prove that their teachings really did work. The Sophists differ from a modern professor because their teachings were more one on one, and they sought to teach their pupils exclusively persuasive speech. A professor teaches a broader range of skills and seems like less of a con-artist. The Sophists were similar to professors in that they both taught students for pay and both are regarded as highly intelligent in society. In ancient Greece, the Sophists were controversial because they made a weak case seem stronger, which the Greeks believed was immoral. This seems immoral because it is lying or quibbling in a way. They probably wouldn’t be viewed as quite as controversial today as this practice is common in the field of law.