Historical context surrounding the emergence of sophistry

Assignment Help Other Subject
Reference no: EM132382717

Below, you will find your first writing assignment of the semester. In response to the prompt, you are to select from one of the three prompt questions and compose an essay of no less than 750 words-or, roughly, three full pages, double spaced, size 12 Times New Roman font, standard margins- and no more than 1,000 words (roughly four full pages), due no later than midnight (via ecampus) on Tuesday, October 8th. Late assignments will not be accepted without previous arrangements having been made prior to the deadline, and, as the syllabus clearly states, you must turn in all assignments in order to be eligible to pass the class. Your response must be thorough and well-written, with references to the text; to that end, I invite you to visit the ‘Course Materials' tab in ecampus for resources that provide greater clarity regarding my expectations for what constitutes a strong paper, as well as the standards according to which I will evaluate your essay.

I highly recommend visiting the Writing Center (Medina Hall, Room 216-inside the Learning Center) or submitting your drafts to our Online Writing Center at [email protected]; remember that providing proof that you visited the Writing Center to work with a tutor on your essay will automatically raise your grade by half a letter. For example, a paper that receives a B-, say, an 82, raises to a B, say, an 85, with a visit to the Writing Center. Of course, you are free to go multiple times to that excellent resource, but the extra credit stops after the first visit.

Lastly, I encourage you to use secondary sources, but be sure to cite them to a fault; if I catch a whiff of plagiarism, then you automatically fail the assignment and are subject to further disciplinary actions by the Dean of Liberal Arts.

Be bold in your undertaking; I wish you the best of luck!

1) The death of Socrates, to a large extent, occurred because the citizens of ancient Athens' were unable to distinguish clearly between Socrates and any old sophist; accordingly, a comparison of Socrates to the sophists will help one to avoid making the same mistake as that committed by those early members of the Western world. Why, then, is Socrates often mistaken as a sophist? In what ways is he different from them? In crafting one's response, one would do well to consider to what respective ends rhetoric is employed and why; nomadism versus fidelity to Athens; Aristophanes' portrayal of Socrates in The Clouds; Socrates' description of himself as a "gadfly"; Socrates' description of himself as a "midwife"; Socrates' reason for confessing that he cannot teach knowledge and, accordingly, why he cannot accept payment; the sophists' reason for charging their students; and relativism and skepticism/cynicism versus absolute knowledge, or Truth.

2) Who are the sophists? One would do well to consider some, if not all, of the following: the historical context surrounding the emergence of sophistry; the nature of the material that the sophists claimed to teach; the definitions of, and the relationship between, rhetoric and relativism, respectively, (including the roles of skepticism, agnosticism, and the logos, as well as Protagoras' claim that "of all things, man is the measure"); the definitions of, and the relationship between, physis and nomos (including the tie to relativism, the collapse of the distinction between knowledge and opinion, and, consequently, what becomes of the logos).

3) According to Socrates' friend, Chaerephon, the sacred Oracle at Delphi claimed that no one was wiser than Socrates of Athens; however, Socrates claims to know only one thing: that he possess no wisdom whatsoever. Nonetheless, what four beliefs does Socrates appear ‘to know,' or hold to be true? What makes him reasonably certain of these convictions? Is there anything ironic about his seeming ‘to know' these things? One would do well to include consideration of the Socratic method and dialectic vs. dogmatism; Alcibiades' eulogy of Socrates; Socrates' attitude in the face of death; and his pronouncement that "the unexamined life is not worth living."

Reference no: EM132382717

Questions Cloud

Discuss speaking with confidence : Discuss speaking with confidence. Generate list of factors or situations that account for your own nervousness or confidence in public speaking situations
The values and beliefs of the intended audience : "How do the arguments and the support offered by the writer connect with the values and beliefs of the intended audience?
Common trope that buddhism is peaceful religion : Your assignment is to explore an episode in recent history which challenges the common trope that Buddhism is a peaceful religion.
Reviewing specific movie sound and how sound impacted movie : I need a 3-page reviewing a specific movie sound and how the sound impacted the movie,
Historical context surrounding the emergence of sophistry : Who are the sophists? One would do well to consider some, if not all, of the following: the historical context surrounding the emergence of sophistry;
Why we should adopt your policy or perspective : Explaining why we should (or should not) adopt your policy or perspective, buy your product, etc.
The emphasis here is designing audience slides : The emphasis here is designing audience slides that are not read but glanced at and only enhance the verbal portion of your presentation (note slides).
Dimensions of the big five personality model : Written summary on one of the dimensions of the Big Five Personality Model.
Write definitional argument of the term social media : Write a definitional argument of the term "social media." Make an original argument that defines "social media" based on your understanding, analysis,

Reviews

Write a Review

Other Subject Questions & Answers

  Cross-cultural opportunities and conflicts in canada

Short Paper on Cross-cultural Opportunities and Conflicts in Canada.

  Sociology theory questions

Sociology are very fundamental in nature. Role strain and role constraint speak about the duties and responsibilities of the roles of people in society or in a group. A short theory about Darwin and Moths is also answered.

  A book review on unfaithful angels

This review will help the reader understand the social work profession through different concepts giving the glimpse of why the social work profession might have drifted away from its original purpose of serving the poor.

  Disorder paper: schizophrenia

Schizophrenia does not really have just one single cause. It is a possibility that this disorder could be inherited but not all doctors are sure.

  Individual assignment: two models handout and rubric

Individual Assignment : Two Models Handout and Rubric,    This paper will allow you to understand and evaluate two vastly different organizational models and to effectively communicate their differences.

  Developing strategic intent for toyota

The following report includes the description about the organization, its strategies, industry analysis in which it operates and its position in the industry.

  Gasoline powered passenger vehicles

In this study, we examine how gasoline price volatility and income of the consumers impacts consumer's demand for gasoline.

  An aspect of poverty in canada

Economics thesis undergrad 4th year paper to write. it should be about 22 pages in length, literature review, economic analysis and then data or cost benefit analysis.

  Ngn customer satisfaction qos indicator for 3g services

The paper aims to highlight the global trends in countries and regions where 3G has already been introduced and propose an implementation plan to the telecom operators of developing countries.

  Prepare a power point presentation

Prepare the power point presentation for the case: Santa Fe Independent School District

  Information literacy is important in this environment

Information literacy is critically important in this contemporary environment

  Associative property of multiplication

Write a definition for associative property of multiplication.

Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd