different between sophism vs sophist

English

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek ???????? (sophismós, “wisdom, learnedness”), derived from ????? (sophía, “wisdom, learning”) +? -ism. The English definition of Sophism was corrupted by Plato condemning Greek sophists who charged for their personal rhetorics, often giving fallacious and deceptive reasoning for young noblemen seeking political office.

Noun

sophism (countable and uncountable, plural sophisms)

1. A method of teaching using the techniques of philosophy and rhetoric.
2. (informal) A flawed argument, superficially correct in its reasoning, usually designed to deceive.
3. (informal) An intentional fallacy.

Related terms

• sophist
• sophistic
• sophisticate
• sophisticated
• sophistry

Translations

See also

• half-truth

Etymology 2

Noun

sophism (uncountable)

1. Archaic spelling of Sufism.

References

English

Etymology

From Latin sophista, also sophistes, from Ancient Greek ???????? (sophist?s, “pursuer of wisdom”), from ?????????? (sophízesthai, “become wise”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?s?f?st/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?so?f?st/

Noun

sophist (plural sophists)

1. One of a class of teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, and politics in ancient Greece.
2. (loosely) A teacher who used plausible but fallacious reasoning.
3. (loosely, by extension) One who is captious, fallacious, or deceptive in argument.

   Synonym: logic chopper

4. (dated) Alternative form of sophister (“university student who has completed at least one year”)

Usage notes

• The meaning of "sophist" can vary depending on the time period to which one is referring. A sophist of the earliest period was a master in his art or craft who demonstrated (taught by example) his practical skill/learning in exchange for pay. Later sophists were providers of a well-rounded education intended to give pupils arete – "virtue, human excellence". By late antiquity, sophist?s / sophistes tended to denote exclusively a skilled public speaker and/or teacher of rhetoric.

Related terms

Translations

References