FANCY FOOTWORK:Introducing the Sophists
The Sophists
Sophists The term related
to the Greek words sophos and sophia, commonly translated as “wise” and “wisdom”
Sophists The term related
to the Greek words sophos and sophia, commonly translated as “wise” and “wisdom”
A “sophist”, then, is simply a “wise man”
Periclean Democracy Pericles, an
Athenian general, politician and renowned orator ushered in what is generally considered the golden age of Athens—he fostered the arts and executed a large number of public works
Periclean Democracy The constitutional
reforms he instigated in Athens in 462/461 B.C. was based upon two principles:
Periclean Democracy 1) That power
should be with the people as a whole and not a small section of the citizen body;
Periclean Democracy 1) That power should
be with the people as a whole and not a small section of the citizen body;
2) That high offices should be entrusted to those best fitted and most able to carry out civic functions
Periclean Democracy“What the sophists were able to offer was in no sense a contribution to the education of the masses. They offered an expensive product invaluable to those seeking a career in politics and public life generally. . .”(Kerferd 17)
The Major Players
The Major Players Protagoras
The Major Players Protagoras Born about 490
B.C. in Thrace
The Major Players Protagoras Born about 490
B.C. in Thrace
The Major Players Protagoras Born about 490
B.C. in Thrace Met Pericles; later
appointed by him to write laws for the Athenian colony of Thurii in 444 B.C.
The Major Players Protagoras A successful and
respected teacher who demanded a large fee
The Major Players Protagoras A successful and
respected teacher who demanded a large fee
Range of interests included ethics, politics, theology, education, cultural history, literary criticism, linguistic studies and rhetoric
The Major Players Protagoras Most famous for
his statement: “Man is the measure of all things.”
The Major Players Gorgias
The Major Players Gorgias Born in Leontini,
Sicily around 480 B.C.
The Major Players Gorgias Born in Leontini,
Sicily around 480 B.C.
In 427, sent as an ambassador by Leontini to Athens, which he visited repeatedly or even settled there
The Major Players Gorgias His oratorical
virtuosity amazed Athenians
The Major Players Gorgias His oratorical
virtuosity amazed Athenians
Famous for his extemporaneous oratory—he would ask an audience to suggest a subject that he would then speak about knowledgeably
The Major Players Isocrates
The Major Players Isocrates Born to a wealthy
family in Athens in 436 B.C.
The Major Players Isocrates Born to a wealthy
family in Athens in 436 B.C.
Student of Gorgias; also an acquaintance of Socrates
The Major Players Isocrates Set up his own
school of rhetoric around 392 B.C. emphasizing sophist principles of rhetoric, especially kairos
The Major Players Isocrates Believed that for his
students to succeed, they required three things: a natural ability; knowledge gained by imitation and practice, and a means to apply that practice
Rhetoric, Athletics, and the Sophists’ Three R’s
Bodily Pedagogies:
Bodily Pedagogies
“I want to instead explore a connection that inhered
in ancient practices. . .that between
rhetorical training and athletic training” (142)
Bodily PedagogiesIn this article, Hawhee explores the connections between the ancient
Athenian gymnasium and the teaching of rhetoric. In particular, she emphasizes how the rhythmic music of the gymnasium was used for both athletic training and the
learning of oratory.
Bodily Pedagogies“From this spatial intermingling of practices, there emerged a curious syncretism between athletics and rhetoric, a particular crossover in
pedagogical practices and learning styles, a crossover that
contributed to the development of rhetoric as a bodily art. . .”(144)
Bodily Pedagogies
In particular, Hawhee notes how crucial the body is for
the development of an Athenian citizen ethos for both arts, since they both emphasize what she calls the “Three R’s”: rhythm, repetition, and response.
Bodily Pedagogies
Ethos: A Greek word originally meaning “accustomed
place”, the term points to customs and habits
Ethos also forms the root of “ethikos” meaning moral or showing a moral character
Bodily Pedagogies
Ethos: Aristotle emphasizes ethos
as tool for persuasion through the presentation of an orator’s moral character
The Sounds of Ancient Greece
Ancient Greek’s distinct sound and rhythm: here’s an excerpt from The Odyssey
The Sounds of Ancient Greece
Here’s the sound of the aulos
A second example, this time with a more distinct rhythm
Bodily PedagogiesSince, as Hawhee
emphasizes, music and rhythm represent key elements in the
education of a young Athenian wishing to cultivate a citizen
ethos, let’s attempt to use these techniques to review her article.
Bodily PedagogiesI will put you into groups and each
group will be assigned a section
from Hawhee’s article.
Bodily PedagogiesYour task will be to review this section
and write a summary of it that emphasizes the key arguments and ideas that you find there; you will also emphasize any terms you think are important as well.
Bodily PedagogiesNext, listening to the music, you will revise
your text in a way that echoes the rhythm of
the aulos. You will practice the text aloud with the music; you will also be encouraged to
design gestures or physical movements to aid in the memory of
ideas and/or key terms.
Bodily PedagogiesEach group will then present their section to the class, in sync with the aulos. Each
group can speak together or
individuals could represent different terms, repeating a
particular movement emphasizing it.
Bodily PedagogiesAudience
participation is encouraged. Gaining the participation of
the audience is a way to build ethos in the classroom, and help make your material
more memorable and persuasive.
Bodily PedagogiesI’ll give each group
about fifteen-twenty minutes to put your
presentations together and then I’ll
ask each group to share with the class.
I’ll keep playing the aulos clip to help you
prepare.
Dissoi Logoi or Dialexeis
Dissoi Logoi or Dialexeis Dissoi Logoi is an
anonymous sophistic treatise written some time around the end of the Peloponnesian War (so around 404 B.C.)
Dissoi Logoi or Dialexeis
The anonymous author discusses opposing arguments and the points of view each position entails
Dissoi Logoi or Dialexeis
This text is considered “sophistic” due to its emphasis on the role of language in making meaning.
Dissoi Logoi or Dialexeis First, let’s get
more familiar with the text. There are nine sections in this treatise. I will break you up into groups. Each group will summarize their assigned section, emphasizing:
Dissoi Logoi or Dialexeis First, let’s get
more familiar with the text. There are nine sections in this treatise. I will break you up into groups. Each group will summarize their assigned section, emphasizing:
The position of the writer;
Dissoi Logoi or Dialexeis First, let’s get
more familiar with the text. There are nine sections in this treatise. I will break you up into groups. Each group will summarize their assigned section, emphasizing:
The position of the writer;
The opposing position(s)
Dissoi Logoi or Dialexeis First, let’s get more
familiar with the text. There are nine sections in this treatise. I will break you up into groups. Each group will summarize their assigned section, emphasizing:
The position of the writer;
The opposing position(s)
I’ll give you about ten minutes to do this, then each group will share their findings
Dissoi Logoi or DialexeisNow, let’s apply the Big Four:#1 How does this theorist/thinker define rhetoric?
Dissoi Logoi or DialexeisNow, let’s apply the Big Four:#2: What are the consequences of this definition for: a) Creators of Texts
(rhetors) b) “Readers” of Texts
(audiences) c) Locations of Texts
(situations)
Dissoi Logoi or DialexeisNow, let’s apply the Big Four:#3: What is the relationship between language and knowledge (epistemology) in this definition?
Dissoi Logoi or DialexeisNow, let’s apply the Big Four:#4: How might this definition be applied (or not) to contemporary texts?
FANCY FOOTWORK:Introducing the Sophists
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