Sophist - Greek-paid teachers eloquence, the same philosophical lines, distributed in Greece in the 2nd half of V - 1-st half of IV century BC. e. In a broad sense, the term ̳ophist۠means a skilled or wise man.
Periodization and major representatives of
In a broad sense to talk about the three ages of sophistry:
Classical, or ancient sophistry (V - 1-st half of IV century BC. E.).
A second or new casuistry (2 - beg. 3. N. E.). Key representatives - Lukian Samosatsky, Flavio Filostrat and others.
Third or later sophistry (4. N. E.). Key representatives - Libany, Julian apostate.
The second and third sophistry called only by analogy with the classical sophistry and were imitative literary currents, seeking to restore the idea of classical style and the Sophists.
The most well-known senior Sophists (the ACME accounted for 2 nd half to 5. BC. E.) Are Protagor Abdersky, Gorge of Leontine, Gippy of Elidy, Prodikos Keossky, Antifont, Crete Athens.
The most well-known younger Sophists (ACME went to their 1-st half of 4. BC. E.) Are Likofron, Alkidamant, Frasimah.