How does the philosopher differ fundamentally from the sophist in regard to the search for knowledge?

In this paper, the author intends to show the difference between the philosophers and sophists, mainly as outlined by Plato. The difference will be shown both regarding the method and the purpose of acquiring knowledge. Plato's understanding of philosopher will be presented through the prism of his critic of sophistic approach, mainly as presented in Meno. The main thread that we will follow in our interpretation will be implicit dangers that sophistic turn toward subjectivism bring, and the solution offered by Plato.

To do so, we will give a historical account of who were the sophists. After that, we will present the turn from ontological inquiries of presocratics to anthropocentric philosophy as observed in later thinkers, mainly Sophists and Socrates. This is needed in order to understand the dangers of subjectivism, which Plato is addressing.

After presenting the philosophy of Sophists, we will analyze the Platos critique of Sophists, mainly as shown in dialogue Meno. This analysis's primary focus will be Plato's understanding of sophistic knowledge as knowledge of particular and, as such, on the level of appearances as opposed to the philosopher's knowledge as general. In light of the critique of knowledge as particular, we will interpret Plato's understanding of the negative practical consequences of the sophists' position.

To present the philosophy of sophists, we will mainly refer to The Great Conversation by Norman Melchert. For interpreting Plato's stance toward sophists, we will mainly rely on dialogue Meno.

Sophists

Sophists were traveling teachers of ancient Greece. Their teaching included the whole spectrum of knowledge of their time. Even though we now mainly view in light of later critics as teachers of rhetoric that offer the training in the dispute, they did not only limit to that. Although they did indeed promise to teach the skills necessary for individual and political success, they also gave

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