7. Isocrates’ “Against the Sophists” and “Antidosis” Tsocrates, w slightly older contemporary of Plato, was Plato's rival as a teacher in Athens, Barly in his career fhe had been @ writer of lawcourt speeches, though he himself, because of a weak voice and a certain timidity, was mot an orator. “Against the Sophists” is an early ‘work in which he tries to distinguish his own position irom that of the other Sophists. It has been called “an ‘advertisement of the principles and methods of his | school.” The “Antidosis,” on the other hand, was not written wntil Isocrates swas eighty-two years old, and constitutes ‘an “apology” for his life and carver, AGAINSY THE SoPHISTS If all who are engoged in the prof of educati ‘were willing to state the facts instead of making grea promises chan they can possibly fulfi, they would not in such bad repute with the lay-public. As it i, however the teachers who do not scruple to vaunt their pore with utter disregard of the truth have excated the pression that those who choote a life of careless indoler are better advised than those who devote themselves sexious study. Indeed, who can fail to abhor, yes to contema, € Isocraies “Against the Sophists™ and “Antidasis” ng teachers, in the first place, who devote themselves to dive Putation, simee they pretend to search for «uth, but ssaightoay atthe beginning of their professions ateempt to deceive us with lies? For I think it is manifest to *i1 that foreknowledge of future events is not vouchsafed to our human nature, but that we are so far yemoved from this prescience that Homer, whe has been conceded the highest reputation for wisdom, has pietared even the gods as at times debating among themselves about the fisture—not that he knew their minds bat that he desired {© show us that for mankind this power lies in the realms 0f the impossible, But these professors have gone so far in their lack of seruple that they attempt to persuaule our young men that if they will omly study under them they witl know what to do in life and through this knowledge will be, Gane Nappy ane Prosperous, ‘More than that, although {hey set themselves up a8 masters and dispenses of gouds 40 precious, they are not ashamed of asking for them a Price of three or four minael Why, if they were to sell any other commodity for so trifling a fraction of its worth, (REY would not deny Weir folly; nevertheless, although they set 0 insignificant a price on the whole stock of virtue and happines, they pretend to wisdom and ae sume the right to instruct the rest of the world. Further, more, although they say that they do not want money and speak contemptuously of wealth as “filthy Iuere,” they Hold their hands out for @ wifing gain and promise those from whom they are to get this money-—they distrust, thar to say, the very men to whom they are about to delives the science of just deating—and they require that the fees advanced by their students be entrusted for safeove “Tis Eoucartonas, Tawonss oF tm Sormsts keeping to those who have never been under their in- struction, being well advised as to their secuity, but doing the opposite of what they preach. For it is permis- sible to thote who give any other instruction’ to be exacting in matters open to dispute, since nothing pre- vents those who have been ade adept in other lines of training from being dishonourable in the matter of con- tracts, But men who inculcate vire and sobriety—is ic not absurd i they do not trust in their own students, before all there For it isnot to be mpposed that men ‘who are honourable and justdealing with others will be dishonest with the very preceptors who have made them what they sre. When, therefore, the layman puts all these things together and observes that the teachers of wisdom and dispensers of happiness are themvelves in great want but exact only a small fee from their students, that they are fon the watch for contradictions in words but are blind 19 inconsistencies in deeds, and that, furthermore, they pre- tend to have knowledge of the fucure but are incapable cither of saying anything pertinent or of giving. any counsel regarding the present, and when he observes th those who follow their judgements are more consisten and more succesful than thove who profess 10 hav exact knowledge, then he bas, think, good reason conten such studies and regacd chem as suff and n sense, and not as a true discipline of the soul But ie is not these sophists alone who are open criticism, but alo those who profes to teach political comic, For the Inter have ‘no interest whatever in truth, but consider that dhey re masters of an axt if can attract great numbers of students by the sna heir charges ana che magnitude of thelr profesions get something out of them. For they are thence Toocrates “Against the Sophiste” and “Antidacis?” ag cn ea wo ny oe oh te bn ct rt in share in the opprobrium, But 1 marvel when 1 observe thesc men setting them- selves up as instructors of youth who exnnot cee that they are applying the analogy of an art with hard and fast ules to a creative process. For, excepting these teachers, ‘who does not know that the art of using letter remains fixed and unchanged, so that we continnally and invari ably use the same letters for the sme purpores, while26 ‘Tae EoveanonaL, Tasonis oF tum Sormsts exactly the revense is true of the art of discourse? For what has been said by one speaker is not equally useful for the speaker who comes after him; om the contrary, he is accounted most skilled in this art who speaks in a ‘manner worthy of his subject and yet is able to discover in it topies which are nowise the same as those used by others. But the greatest proof of the difference between, these two arts is that oratory is good only if it has the qualities of fitness for the occasion, propriety of style, and originality of treatment, while in the case of letters there is no such need whatsoever. So that those who make use of such analogies ought more justly to pay out than to accept fees, since they attempt to teach others when they are themselves in great need of instruction. However, if it is my duty not only to rebuke others, but also to set forth my own views, I think all intelligent people will agree with me chat while many of those wo have pursued philosophy have remained in private lite, others, on the other hand, who have never taken lessons From any one of the sophists have become able orators and statesmen. For ability, whether in speech or in any ‘other activity, is found in chose who are weil endowed by nature and have been schooled by practical experience Formal training makes such men more skilful and more: resourcefal in discovering the powibilities of a subjects, for it teaches them to take from a readier source topics which they otherwise hit upon in haphazart fashion, But it cannot fully fashion men who are wit natural aptitude into good debaters or writers, althouy tis capable of feading thes on to self-improvement toa greater degree of intelligence on many subjects. But I desire, now that I have gone this far, 19 spi more clearly on these matters, For I hold that to obi ‘ knowledge of the elements ont of which we make ‘Boers “dguins the Sophisl and “Antitoser ay ened for each subject, to join them together rear Tat, Properly, and alto, not to mise whos the Sposa waagmands but appropriately to adorn the whee serch with striking thoughts and to clothe ie 42 flowing mach weadious phrase—these things, T hold sc TRU study and are the task of a vigorous oat imagina rece’ fa" this the stadene mast not only haces of dinmeabtitede but he must learn the different ints Si ftcourse and practise himself in chet une yh the Atachet, for his part, must so expound. the Principle: of ihe art with the utmost posible exactneat gona! leave lately sprang up and these pretensions, even Bough they foi she mosis ee ae SES cme round to this position Ducane as ianidered those who lived before our tne an spl to wite the called mt of orneny tid not be damised without rebuke sins they ria itt ow to conduct lawsuits, picing aoe ee ceded of terms, which the tnemieg sea ee8 Tie EoveaTiona. Throws ov wR Sorisr3 pions, of ‘this discipline might have been expected to employ—and that too although this facility, in eo far as ie can be «aught, is of no greater aid co forensic chan to all other discourse, But tiey were much worse than those who dabble in disputation; for although che Tacter ex- pounded soch captious theories that were anyone 10 cleave to them in practice he would at once be in all manner of trouble, they did, at any rate, make profes- sions of virtue and sobriety in their teaching, whereas the former, although exhorting others to study political discourse, neglected all the good things which this study alfords, and became nothing more than profesors of ‘meddlesomencss and greed. ‘And yet those who desire to follow the true precepts of this discipline may, if they will, be helped more speed: ily towards honesty of character than towards facility in oratory. And let no one suppose that I claim that just living can be taught; for, in a word, T hold that there does not exist an art of the kind which can implant sobriety and justice in depraved natures, Nevertheless, Ido think that the study of political discourse can help ‘more than any other thing to stimulate and form such qualities of character ‘But in order that I saay not appear to be breaking down the pretensions of others while myself making greater claims than are within my powers, I believe that the very arguments by which I myself was convinced will make it elear to others also that these things are true. ANTIDOSIS Now, generally speaking, you will find that no one of; the so-called sophists has accumulated a great amou of money, bt hn sme of hen hae ed in oak nose cheung talon ta tp the mer oe Cee i heelys te see the ot repeour sect ete, Ta long ite wt dvd it We ateg oe ae ea no al dain a ca ao, hg fr pt alr ae al {ora a my a hen ay ate fom tn the mat cae ee urdens; and yet, alti ugh he had m af, Ere ee as toward ying up mre een ae ae se ea dea ona a 2 he ag oor, alent in each pro- ‘money than any other, and will may than r compare me with him, TOM HH Rot seem to engage in utwerly blind conjectures anh matter, nor shall 1 be found to have manage ¥ in providing either tor the public welfare or tex 12 Out although, as matter of fact, hav lived on ® than I have expended on my public duties, And ely it is deserving of praise when aman ‘ugal in’ what be spends on his own household than i ‘what be pays out for te common, weal Melt thon in Sau to me as 1am speaking what a change has Gime over Athens; people nowadays do not look at rds in the same way as those who lived in the city in ‘was 2 boy, wealth was re.so “Pun Eowaatiownt THEORIES OF Tite SoPuSTS garded as a thing so secure as well as admirable that almost every one affected to own more property than he. ‘actually possessed, because he wanted to enjoy the stand: ng which it gave, Now, om the other hand, a man bas to be ready to defend himself against being rich as if ‘were the worse of crimes, and to keep on the alert if he is to avoid disaster; for it has become far more danger- ous to be suspected of being well off than to be detected jn crime, for criminals ate pardoned or let off with ‘light penalties, while the rich axe ruimed utterly, and it will be found that the number of men who have been spoiled of their property is greater than. hose who have been punished for their misdeeds. But why speak of public affairs? For I have myself my own affairs, sullered not a little from this change. For when I was beginning to repair my own fortunes after I had lost im the Peloponnesian War the patrimony which remained to me from what my father had spent partly in rendering himself serviceable to the state and partly in educating me with such care that T was more Conspicuous then and more distinguished among the youth of my own age and among my fellovstudents mm Lam now among my iellow-citizens—when, as T | 1 began to attach pupils to myself, £ thought have sa that if 1 could acquive a greater competence and attain fa higher position than others who had started in the: same profession, T should be acclaimed both for superiority of my teaching and for the excellence of my ‘conduct. Buc the result has been the very opposites FET had tuned out to be wortlless wnt had excelled i nothing, no one would have made trouble for me; ma T might have been a flagrant offender and yet lived cure—from the sycophants, at any rate. But now, ‘ead of the acclaim which I expected, I have Troerates “Againss the Sophists” and “Antidars” acme brewing and humiliating honest men, while giving ti ‘at Lysimachus, « man who has elected to live by prac. tea i Pa sn See a Ff aig able to the city, even as I have done. *ence tion, it would ql fall i, when seri mi Sa wot eet lt tae te 0 highly honoured by our forefathens because of single line of bis in which he praises Athens as “the bulwark of Hellas” that he was made “proxenos” and shen proent of ea tant nee tnd, who have glorified Athens soe eae ge et tc ner se oe bee privileged to end my days in peace, ncestors with should not even With regaud, then, to regacd, then, to Wis as well as to the other Tiarat Of my accuser, consider that the defence whic Tobsve made is « aufcient answer. Nevertheless, 1 am HOt going to hesitate to confide in you the truth as to now fect about the pending arial and how 1 feltnee ‘Tue Eaves ona. TisoR0s oF Tite SOPHSTS about it at the frst. I was very confident thac for myself personally 1 could make out 2 good case; for T relied upon the character of my life and conduct, and believed shat I bad no lack of arguments to justify them. But as E observed not only the intolerant feeling toward the teaching of eloquence on the part of those who are churlish coward everyone, but the truculent attitude to- wards it on the part of my felloweitizens in general, T began to be afraid that the truth regarding me personally might be overlooked and that I might sulfer some harm from the common prejudice against the sophists. But as time went on, and I fell to thinking wbat I should do in the present circumstances, I ceased being fearful and disturbed on this account, not without good reason, but after having weighed the probabilities and reassured. my- sell. For 1 knew that the honest men among you—and it is to those that I shall address mysell—do not remain fixed in opinions which they have formed unjustly, but are in quest of the truth and are ready to be convinced by those who plead a just cause; and I believed that I should have abundant grounds to show that philosophy has been unjustly slandered, and that it deserves much more to be held in favour than in contempt; and I am ill of the same opinion. ‘However, itis not surprising that liberal pursuits have! sometimes failed of recognition and regard, nor tha some people have been utterly misled about them. fact we find that this happens in regard to ourselves well as to other things without number. For our cit which is now and has been in the past the author of many blessings both to our own people and to the othy Hellenes, and which abounds in so many charms, nevertheless, a most serious drawback. For Athens i Targe and the multitude of people living here is 60 Wocrates' “Against the Sophiste” and "Antidosi® ag fine the city does ot preven to the mind an ima casily grasped or sharply defined, but, like an mt, whatever it eaeher ip in scone whe oe : whether me things, in each case it swe} aaa ting na ps them along pellaml, a the cpa a theta aa apa whieh ii tn fa tng mod and ace pam fdgement tn any ial witha the exer oak in your private ecapaion EEN 2 ou ce together to dispense justice. it is no minor question which under daesion ton wa een, gue Dect dat mie te elation al ua pe Therefore. you must not let the sycophants have conto) yout, you ought not merely to punts sional Ze st me ish the occasional tamah ‘Tae Roucarionat, Ticonirs oF THE Sores fhalt on those who load this sendy with abuse; you should strip the sycophants of their rewards, and counsel our ‘young men to oceupy themselves with this pursuit above all others. L would have given 2 good deal, assuming that I was doomed by fate to defond myself against this charge, if ‘Teould have faced this cial in the fullness of my vigour: for in that case 1 should have felt no misgiving but should have been better able both to protect myself from ‘my accuser and to champion the cause of liberal educa tion, Now, however, I am afraid that, although 1 have ‘been enabled by this education to speak well enough on other themes, I may find that I have discoursed less ably ‘upon this subject than upon matters which should have concerned me less, And yet I would rather lay down my life this day—for you shall have the truth even though. the words be inept—afier having spoken adequacely ‘upon this theme and persuaded you to look upon the study of eloquence in its crue Tight, than live many times amy allotted spar and see it continue to fare among you as it now does, My aspiration, then, is much greater than my power to do the subject justice; but yet I shall try as best F can to explain what is the nature of this education, what i its power, what of the other arts itis akin to, what bene- fit it is to its devotees, and what claims 1 make for i For 1 think that when you know the truth about this you will be in a better position to deliberate and pro ounce judgement upon it. But I beg of you, if 1 appear to carry on the discussion in a manner far removed fro that which is customary here, not to be impatient bur to bear with me, remembering that when a man is de fending himself on a charge unlike any other, he mus nd of pleading which is out of the ordinary resort toa tsocrates “Aguinst the Sophiss” and “Antidos™ a me pte teeta and with my frankness ef speech; a the law. - the genealogists, to stat atthe beginning, Ie ix eke te ph nil a oan cide both on personal and on public questions, and of te ey army ee apt es is @ part, and, for the mind, philosophy, which 1 “an meen terete, sn ther forms of dicpline. " hhave been devi while te teaches wc ues mn ie ohh ya et acs permit me to use up and then cast your bal and in accondance with226 ‘Tur Fovcariona. Thscens oF Ti Sorwsrs Me tn maw Bay a ee a en as a, ee ee ene crea ee aa Se ee see est ag 8 wg eae me am wh ome ee ee Reromieeedproneprcre it ts et yea Soret hte pa, igo co 7 have Been You now some impresion of wba phi- eee nee ie er eg sg inn geyser an en SENTGEE Ger et er ne cee ter at copa lon, SOS ges a ee Fsoceates “Against the Sophiet” and “Antidosi™ any be in.each cases and, finally, they must become versed and practised in the use and application of their art; for only om these conditions can they become fully com petent and preeminent in any line of endeavour, In this process, master and pupil each has his place: no one but the pupil can furnish the necessary capacity; wo one Dut die master, the ability to impart knowledge; while both have a part in the exercises of practical application: for the master must painstakingly direct his pupil, and the Iatter must rigidly follow the master's instructions. Now these observations appiy to any and all the arts AL anyone, ignoring the other arts, were to ask me which (f these factors has the greatest power in the education (of an orator T shoukd answer thae natural ability is para ‘mount and comes before ail else, Far given a man with a mind which is capable of finding out and learning the truth and of working had and remembering what it ears, and also with a voice and a clarity of utterance which are able to captivate the audience, not only by What he says, but by the musie of his words, and, finally, with an assurance which is not an expression of bravado, but which, tempered by sobriety, so forties the spirit that he is no less at case in addressing all his fellow. citizens than in reflecting to himself—who does not know that such a man might, without the advantage of an elaborate education and with only a superficial and com- mon training, be an orator such as has never, perhaps, been seen among the Hellenes? Again, we Know that ‘men who are less generously endowed by natisre but ex- cal in experience and practice, not only improve ‘upon themselves, but surpass others who, though highly gifted, have been too negligent of their talents. Tt follows, therefore, that either one of these factors may produce an able speaker or an able man of affairs, but both of‘Tam Fouoarionas, Tconsrs ov 112 Sor a them combined in the sume perton might produce aman | incomparable among his fellows. | | These, then, are my views as to the relative impor tance of native ability and practice. 1 cannot, however, make a like claim for education; its powers are not equal nor comparable to theirs. For if one should take lesions in all the principles of oratory and master them with the greatest thoroughness, he might, pethaps, become a amore pleasing speaker than most, but Jet him stand up before the crowd and lack one thing only, namely, as surance, and he would not be able wo utter a word. eee pti autre tay ontes au neta Poa epee ers wo faites nd er Ind sharpen on these @heiptiney of gasping and 4 ee ae emer ee ee Fea eee te pee sa ttt hy a et oe he me Trocrates’ “Against the Sophists" ond 219 spend some time on these disciplines, but not to aliow their minds to be dried up by these barren subtleties, nor to be stranded on the speculations of the ancient sophists, who maintain, some of them, that the sum of things is made up of infinite elements; Empedoctes that it is made up of four, with strife and love operating ‘among them; Ion, of not more than three; Alemacon, of only two; Parmenides and Melissus, of ome; and Gorgias, of none at all. For I think that such curiosities of thought ate on a par with jugglers’ tricks which, though they do not profit anyone, yet attract great crowds of the empty-minded, and I hold that men who want :o do sonic good in the world must banish utterly from their ineerests all vain speculations and all activities which have no bearing on our lives. Now i have spoken and advised you enough on these Studies for the present. It remains to tell you about ‘wiscom” and “philosophy. pleading a case on It is true that if one were other issue it would be out of place to discuss these words (lor they are foreign 1p all Diigation), but i is appropriate for me, since Tamm being ‘tied on such an issue, and since T hold that what io people call philosophy is nor entitled to that name, 10 define and explain to you what philosophy, properly con. seived, really is. My view of this question is, as it hap- ens, very simple. For since it is not in the natute of man fo attain a science by the possession of which we can know positively what we should do or what we should say, in the next resort I hold that man «0 be wise who is able by his powers of conjecture to aurive generally at the best course, and I hold that man to be 4 philosopher who occupies himself with the studies fom, which he will most quickly gain that kind of insight ‘What the studies are which have this power I can tell230 ‘Tro Fovcavionas, Tones ov rite Somers you, although I hesitate to do so; they are so contrary , to popular belief and so very far removed from the opin- | ions of the rest of the world, that I am afraid lest when you frst hear them you wilt fil the whole court-oom with your murmurs and your cxies. Nevertheless, in spite of my misgivings, 1 shall attempt to tell you about them; for { blush at the thought that anyone might suspect me of betraying the truth w save my okd age and the litle of lite remaining to me. But, f beg of you, do not, before you have heard me, judge that T could have been :0 mad as to choose deliberately, when my fate is in your funds, 19 expres to you ideas which are re- pugnane co your opinions if 1 had not believed that these ideas follow logically on what I have previously said, and that F could suppor: them with true and convincing, roots, T consider that the kind of art which can implant honesty and justice in depraved matures has never ex: fated and does not nov exist, and that people who pro- fess that power will grow weary and cease from their vain pretensions before wach an education is ever found. But 1 do hold that people can become better and worthier if they conceive an ambition to speak well, if they be- come possessed of the desire 10 be able to persuade their hhearers, and, finally, if they set their hearts on seizing their advantageT do not mean “advantage” inthe sense given to that word by the empty.minded, but advantage in che true meaning of that term; snd that this i so 1 think I shall presently make clear. For, in the frst place, when anyone clects to speak or write discourses which ave worthy of praise and hon- our, it is not conceivable that he will support causes which are unjust or petty or devoted to private quarrels, and not rather those which are great and honourable, Ica “Again the Sophie” ond “Anda” a devoted to the welfae of man and our enon good; fori he hls to find causes of ths characte, he mol ae, complish nothing to the purpame Inthe ead place he wil lect from all the aeons of mes wh beat pom bis mje those exazples which are the snow Insrows sod the mon dijfag, and, habicating hax S10 cntemplate and apprise such examples he wih fee their nduence not only a the prepa dixcourse but im all the actions vf He He, Te telloee then, thatthe poser to speak well td thik igh el Fewatd the man who apptoaches the wt of diag wth love of widom and lov of hone Funthermore, mark you the man who wither co per sade people will not be melignt aa to the mace of hacer, 0, on the conta, hel spp ea howe all 19 exabliah « mut honourable Rave ce hi fellow-cizens; for iho does noc know tet wen, carry greater conviction when spoken by mat at need sepote than when spoen by ikem who Hie unde clon, and tha the agunent which in made by 2 mae lle i of more weight than tha which ie esol by wordt? ‘Therefore, the aronger a man’ dese te pe Sine his hearers the tore zetouly wll he asive te be honourable and to have the ese of hi flloweh