Practice question · Multiple choice
Why does Plato have a particular motive to distinguish Socrates sharply from the Sophists?
Hints
- Ask what Socrates looked like to an ordinary Athenian.
- Arguing in public, questioning convention and attracting young followers is exactly the Sophistic profile.
Show the answer
C. Socrates resembled them closely and was executed partly on that resemblance
Why
To an ordinary Athenian, Socrates was indistinguishable from a Sophist, and that resemblance contributed to his execution. Plato’s task of separating them was urgent and personal, which is why he is a hostile rather than neutral witness.
Practise The Sophists
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More questions on The Sophists
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