Difference Between Socrates Ideas and Those of Sophists

Greek Studies

Socrates and the Sophists

Socrates and the Sophists held many of their philosophical beliefs in common, and this was the very beginning of philosophical thought, debate, and education. However, a major difference between Socrates ideas and the ideas of the Sophists was Socrates belief that the Sophists idea of relativism was based in skill but had no real insight into the real questions of the universe that mattered. He felt the Sophists taught the basics of good politics, which of course were of extreme importance in Athens, but they did not teach the basics of life and living. He also believed that the Sophists were very successful at attacking and changing the old "system of beliefs" but they had not created a workable and successful substitute for the people.

Socrates also believed that morals came directly from how the person lived their life through objective standards and rational thought, rather than religious or mythical traditions. Therefore, people were in charge of their own morals and their own souls. He created the foundations of education with these beliefs, because he felt that real education molded the character with certain values found through reasoning, rather than concentrating simply on the mind.