Sophists vs. Socrates: Ethics and Knowledge
The Principles of Sophisticated Relativism
- Sophists: The basic principle is sophisticated relativism. For the Sophists, truth depends on the subject, the interpretation, and the vision of each person. There is no absolute truth or absolute values; there are only subjectivities. Good and evil depend on the personal perspective that values the fact or situation.
- Individualism and Skepticism: The Sophists also introduced individualism (previously, Greek thinkers shared a collective mindset; there was no individualism), skepticism (the belief that no one can possess absolute truth and that everything is relative), and humanism (the idea that "man is the measure of all things"). They questioned the existence of gods and attempted to understand the origin of religious beliefs, making rational thought popular.
Socrates and the Pursuit of Absolute Truth
- Socrates: His basic principle is absolute truth. This belief in truth sets him apart from the Sophists. Socrates argued that truth resides within the depths of human reason. He opposed the relativism of the Sophists.
- Objective Morality: There is no relativism in Socrates' philosophy. He believed that the Good is objective and values are absolute. Individuals must decide what is right through their moral consciousness.
Moral Intellectualism and Eudaimonism
- Moral Intellectualism: Socrates claimed to hear an inner voice, or daimon (divine sign). This is the voice of moral consciousness that tells one what not to do. The intellect drives the individual to behave morally. Knowing what is ethical means doing good. A good man is one who acts well, but he must first know what the Good is. For Socrates, the Good is the greatest happiness; therefore, one who knows how to act well will not do evil for fear of losing that happiness. He who does evil does so out of ignorance. In this framework, there is no place for moral guilt; wrongdoing is simply a lack of knowledge. For Plato, this knowledge is translated as moral science.
- Eudaimonism: Socrates believed that the virtuous sage was happy. He considered happiness to be the ultimate goal of human life and the greatest good to which one can aspire. The good man is rewarded with happiness.
