Ancient Greek Philosophy: Sophists, Epicurus, and Socrates

Posted on May 21, 2025 in Philosophy and ethics

The Sophists: Masters of Rhetoric and Relativism

The Sophists were a group of influential thinkers and scholars (Sophos) in ancient Greece, known for their mastery of demagoguery and rhetoric. They dedicated themselves to teaching others, often charging fees for their instruction. Most Sophists were foreigners (metoikoi) residing in Athens.

They asserted that it was not necessary to find a unique and unalterable truth, advocating for:

  • The Principle of Isonomia: Equality of all before the law.
  • A strong humanist concern.
  • Relativism regarding truth: The belief that truth is relative.
  • Skepticism: Doubt concerning the possibility of certain knowledge.
  • Criticism of institutions: Laws were seen as mere conventions.

Protagoras: Man as the Measure

Protagoras represented a more moderate form of skepticism. His famous dictum, “Man is the measure of all things,” encapsulates his views on:

  • Relativism and Subjectivism: Truth is dependent on individual perception.
  • Utilitarianism: Emphasizing what is truly useful.
  • Agnosticism: An undefined stance on the existence of God.

Gorgias: Radical Skepticism

Gorgias held a more radical skeptical position, summarized by three propositions:

  1. There is nothing: Denying objective reality.
  2. If there were something, we could not know it: Doubt of knowledge.
  3. If we knew it, we could not communicate it: Doubt of language.

Epicurus: The Pursuit of Tranquility and Pleasure

Epicurus proposed a philosophy centered on achieving a tranquil and pleasurable life:

  1. Living in Harmony with Nature: Embracing a simple life and enjoying its inherent pleasures.
  2. Disregard for Social Life and Simplicity: Cultivating ataraxia (tranquility) and autonomy (freedom). The Garden of Epicurus was a farming community where he lived with companions, fostering self-sufficiency. Autonomy, the ability to be self-reliant, is easier to achieve by reducing one’s needs through simple living.
  3. Pleasure Linked to Happiness: Understanding how to cultivate beneficial pleasures while moderating those that might lead to future pain. For example, while eating brings pleasure, an obsession with food can lead to obesity and pain. True pleasure, properly sought, is an escape from pain.
  4. Distinction Between Desires: Categorizing desires into:
    • Natural and necessary (e.g., food, shelter)
    • Natural and unnecessary (e.g., gourmet food, luxurious clothing)
    • Unnatural and unnecessary (e.g., fame, power)

Socrates: The Quest for Wisdom and Virtue

Socrates, a Greek philosopher born in Athens during the era of Pericles, was a contemporary and adversary of the Sophists. Both shared a profound humanistic concern. Socrates was unjustly condemned and executed in Athens, a city he deeply influenced with his theoretical contributions. The Oracle of Delphi famously declared him the wisest man in Athens.

Socrates developed the Socratic Method, which involves recognizing one’s own ignorance as the path to wisdom. As he famously stated, “Only he who knows nothing truly knows the path to wisdom.”

The Socratic Method

  1. Irony: The art of asking questions to help others discover their own ignorance. Wisdom begins with the awareness of ignorance.
  2. Maieutics: The art of asking questions through which others come to discover the truth within themselves, giving birth to their own ideas. Knowledge is not something to be acquired from others, but rather discovered within oneself.

Socrates was a rationalist, believing that human reason could discern universal truth. He also championed Moral Intellectualism, a philosophical stance asserting the primacy of reason over intuition, desire, or feeling. This doctrine posits that knowing what is right is sufficient to act uprightly; if one knows the good, one will act accordingly. This view has faced various criticisms, including relativistic, emotivist, and pragmatic objections.

He held an Anthropological Optimism, believing that humans have a natural tendency to do good if they possess knowledge. His philosophical approach sought to define the immutable essence of reality through the investigation of Concepts.

Socrates and the Sophists: Similarities and Differences

Similarities:

  • Interest in Humanity: Both focused on how individuals should act to be good citizens.
  • Interest in Language: Both recognized that truth or conviction is born through discourse.
  • Search for Social Influence: Socrates sought moral influence, while the Sophists pursued political influence.

Differences:

  • Method: Socrates employed the Socratic dialogue, viewing words as instruments to reach truth. The Sophists used words primarily to gain power (rhetoric).
  • Ideal: Socrates’ ideal was to achieve happiness through virtue. The Sophists’ ideal was to achieve success.
  • Philosophical Foundation: Socrates aimed to establish philosophy by defining ethical concepts (e.g., what is good, what is truth). For the Sophists, such universal definitions were often considered impossible.