sofista

A sophist (plural sophists) was a professional teacher in ancient Greece who taught rhetoric, argumentation, and civic skills. They were active mainly in the 5th century BCE, traveling between city-states to offer instruction for public life, law, and political debate.

Sofists emphasized the art of persuasion: how to argue effectively, craft speeches, and interpret law. They often charged fees and operated as itinerant educators, helping citizens prepare for assemblies and courts, rather than pursuing universal philosophical truth.

Prominent sophists include Protagoras, Gorgias, Prodicus, and Hippias. Protagoras is associated with relativistic views such as "Man is the measure of all things," while Gorgias explored the limits of rhetoric and knowledge; Prodicus and Hippias contributed to moral and linguistic instruction.

The rise of philosophy and the critiques of Socrates and Plato portrayed the sophists as skeptics or manipulators of language, leading to a largely negative reputation in classical texts. The term "sophist" later acquired a pejorative sense as someone who uses clever but deceptive argumentation.

In modern scholarship, the sophists are viewed as early professionals who helped develop rhetoric, critical thinking, and the study of knowledge and virtue, though their methods and aims remain debated. Their legacy influenced later educational traditions and the political culture of ancient Greece.