Philosopher (Φιλόσοφος), Sophist (Σοφιστής), Rhetorician (Ῥήτωρ): Problems of Classification in the Second Sophistic

15360

Sophists, rhetoricians and philosophers had important political and social duties within the community in the Second Sophistic. However, these three groups can’t be separated definitively from each other in respect to their political duties. Moreover, we can’t obtain any descriptive information as to why they were called sophist, philosopher or rhetorician from the epigraphic record. The identifications which were given concerning the sophists, rhetoricians and philosophers in Ancient Greek Literature sometimes show differences. In this article, employing ancient inscriptions and writer’s opinions, the attempt is made to draw conceptual borders and professional differences between the sophist, philosopher and rhetorician. As a consequence of this research it appears that the philosopher had his own system of ideas and he followed a philosophical idea. However the sophist is a kind of master, teacher and advisor, while the rhetor is more of a politician, supervisor or panegyrist.

1

Philosopher , Sophist , Rhetorician , the Second Sophistic , Classification

Mediterranean Journal Of Humanities

15

Mediterranean Journal Of Humanities