Joho the Blog
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May 07, 2003
At dinner last night in Nashville with AKMA and Vanderbilt's John Rakestraw, Peter and Chip (sorry about not getting the last names) when I used the term "sophistry" in a disparaging way, AKMA offered that he likes the Sophists. If you know AKMA well enough to spell his name, you know he couldn't mean that he likes those who are paid to teach people how to be persuasive on any side of an issue regardless of the truth of the matter, which is the picture of the Sophists we get from Plato. Or, perhaps in some post-Modern way that's exactly what AKMA believes. AKMA is full of surprises. Unfortunately, our dinner conversation shifted away from the topic. So, now I'm eager to hear AKMA's defense of sophistry. And, in the spirit of being mindlessly and ironically provocative, I issue the following debate topic:
Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a day of conversation with AKMA and Vanderbiltians about blogging, the Internet and teaching. Posted
by D. Weinberger at May 7, 2003 08:26 AM
TrackBackListed below are links to weblogs that reference Sophistry:
» Back in Evanston from AKMA’s Random Thoughts Tracked on May 8, 2003 12:25 AM
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Comments
The sophists were hackers... they explored how language tools could be used beyond their readily-apparent purpose, and so helped us in identifying and avoiding misuse.
Posted by: John Dowdell | May 7, 2003 05:21 PM
I have no idea what sophistry means; however, I am doing a project on this word for my school. I would appreciate it if someone could help me with this project.
Details:
I need to know the following:
the history of this word
the events or legends that are tied to this word
Thank you.
Posted by: Christi | September 7, 2003 05:23 PM
I know that word! A plausible but misleading or fallacious argument. You gotta be slick to do that. I'm not that slick cuz i'm stupid. so...yea.
Posted by: me | November 24, 2003 05:43 PM
I run a philosophy discussion site with a bunch of sophists!
Posted by: Larry Kubin | December 15, 2003 10:09 PM
Sophistry is often defined without being understood. In my mind, the health of a state is determined by how much sophistry the leaders must engage in. It seems to me that if you find a place to teach and instruct and interact with people and you rise to the weight of the ideas upon you, then you are lucky.
If the burden of leadership and governance falls upon you however, how qucikly those that definitions of sophistry evaporate into impotence. Essentially, they dissolve back into the minds of the most noble people who thought them.
WHy not? Let's find those people and teach and instruct and interact.
Truth is a rough road and a heavy burden.
Posted by: Chris | May 10, 2005 05:08 PM
ehhh...I'm also trying to figure out what sophistry is. And its history aswell. Any way, if get to gather sufficient data bout em' i'll share it with you....c;
Posted by: anne France | December 4, 2006 09:06 PM