• Sophist

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /ˈsÉ’fɪst/
    • US IPA: /ˈsoÊŠfɪst/

    Origin

    From Latin sophista, also sophistes, from Ancient Greek σοφιστής ("pursuer of wisdom"), from σοφίζεσθαι ("become wise").

    Full definition of sophist

    Noun

    sophist

    (plural sophists)
    1. One of a class of teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, and politics in ancient Greece.
    2. (loosely) A teacher who used plausible but fallacious reasoning.
    3. (loosely, by extension) One who is captious, fallacious, or deceptive in argument.

    Usage notes

    The meaning of "sophist" can vary depending on the time period to which one is referring. A sophist of the earliest period was a master in his art or craft who demonstrated (taught by example) his practical skill/learning in exchange for pay. Later sophists were providers of a well-rounded education intended to give pupils arete – "virtue, human excellence". By late antiquity, sophistḗs
    sophistes tended to denote exclusively a skilled public speaker and/or teacher of rhetoric.

    Dictionary of Philosophy, Dagobert D. Runes (ed.), Philosophical Library, 1962. See: "Sophists" by Max Fishler, p. 295.

    "History of the name ‘Sophist’," Encyclopedia Britannica at www.britannica.com.

    Synonyms

    • (one who is captious, fallacious, or deceptive in argument) logic chopper
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