The Greek Sophists

by Dillon, John; Dillon, John; Gergel, Tania; Gergel, Tania

• ISBN13: 9780140436891
• ISBN10: 0140436898
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-10-28
• Publisher: Penguin Classics

Summary

The Sophists, who rose to prominence in democratic Athens during the mid-fifth century b.c., understood the art of rhetoric and the importance of being able to transform effective reasoning into persuasive public speaking. Their inquiries-into the gods, the origins of religion, and whether virtue can be taught-influenced the next generation of classical philosophers and formed the foundations of the European prose style and formal oratory. In this new translation each chapter is organized around the work of one character, including Gorgias, Prodicus, Protagoras, and Antiphon, among others.

Author Biography

John Dillon is Regius Professor of Greek at Trinity College in Dublin. Tania Gergel is a lecturer in Ancient Greek Philosophy at Kings College London.

Table of Contents

Chronology	p. vii
Introduction	p. ix
Further Reading	p. xxiv
A Note on the Text	p. xxx
Protagoras of Abdera	p. 1
Gorgias of Leontini	p. 43
Prodicus of Ceos	p. 98
Hippias of Elis	p. 118
Antiphon	p. 133
Thrasymachus of Chalcedon	p. 203
Critias of Athens	p. 217
Euthydemus and Dionysodorus of Chios	p. 266
Alcidamas of Elaea	p. 283
The Anonymus Iamblichi and the Double Arguments	p. 310
A Conspectus of Sources	p. 335
Notes	p. 339
Index of Rhetorical Terms	p. 413
Index	p. 415
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