Definitions for sophist
ˈsɒf ɪstsophist

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Sophistnoun

   any of a group of Greek philosophers and teachers in the 5th century BC who speculated on a wide range of subjects

2. casuist, sophistnoun

   someone whose reasoning is subtle and often specious

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. sophistnoun

   One of a class of teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, and politics in ancient Greece, especially one who used fallacious but plausible reasoning.

2. sophistnoun

   One who is captious, fallacious, or deceptive in argument.

3. Etymology: From sophista, also sophistes, from σοφιστής, from σοφίζεσθαι.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Sophistnoun

   A professor of philosophy.

   Etymology: sophista, Latin.

   The court of Crœsus is said to have been much resorted by the sophists of Greece in the happy beginning of his reign. William Temple.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. sophist

   A sophist is a person who is skilled in elaborate, manipulative, and deceptive argumentation. Originally referring to a group of ancient Greek teachers of politics, philosophy, and rhetoric, the term gradually evolved to have a more negative connotation, indicating someone using sophisticated but fallacious reasoning to deceive or mislead. Sophist can also refer to a philosopher or scholar engaging in speculation, particularly in a way that is perceived as abstract or impractical.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Sophistnoun

   one of a class of men who taught eloquence, philosophy, and politics in ancient Greece; especially, one of those who, by their fallacious but plausible reasoning, puzzled inquirers after truth, weakened the faith of the people, and drew upon themselves general hatred and contempt

2. Sophistnoun

   hence, an impostor in argument; a captious or fallacious reasoner

3. Etymology: [F. sophiste, L. sophistes, fr. Gr. . See Sophism.]

WikidataRate this definition:2.0 / 2 votes

1. Sophist

   The Sophist is a Platonic dialogue from the philosopher's late period, most likely written in 360 BC. Its main theme is to identify what a sophist is and how a sophist differs from a philosopher and statesman. Because each seems distinguished by a particular form of knowledge, the dialogue continues some of the lines of inquiry pursued in the epistemological dialogue, Theaetetus, which is said to have taken place the day before. Because the Sophist treats these matters, it is often taken to shed light on Plato's Theory of Forms and is compared with the Parmenides, which criticized what is often taken to be the theory of forms. The dialogue is unusual in being one of three that do not feature Socrates, although as in its sequel, the Statesman, he is present to play a minor role. Instead, the Eleatic Stranger takes the lead in the discussion. The fact that Socrates is present but silent makes it difficult to attribute the views put forward by the Eleatic Stranger to Plato, beyond the difficulty inherent in taking any character to be an author's "mouthpiece."

Matched Categories

1. • Philosopher
   • Reasoner

How to pronounce sophist?

1. Alex

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   British

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   Mia

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   Australian

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How to say sophist in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of sophist in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of sophist in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

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References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=sophist
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Sophist
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=sophist
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sophist
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=sophist