The Greek Sophists by John Dillon & TANIA GERGEL

Author:John Dillon & TANIA GERGEL
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-10-22T00:00:00+00:00

6 THRASYMACHUS OF CHALCEDON

LIFE AND WORKS

Thrasymachus is a figure of whom not much is known. He came from the Greek colony of Chalcedon1 on the Bosporus, being born around 460–455 BC. At any rate, he was well known before 427, when Aristophanes refers to him in his Banqueters (below, 4), and survived, probably, to at least the end of the century, when he composed a speech for the people of Larisa in Thessaly against King Archelaus of Macedon, who reigned from 413 to 399, and who attacked Larisa in 400. He is best known for his appearance in Book I of Plato’s Republic, in what may be a very tendentious portrayal of his character and doctrines; otherwise he is known primarily as a rhetorical stylist rather than a thinker. He appears to have died in Chalcedon; at any rate, a monument was raised to him there after his death (cf.11).

First, an entry in the Suda:

1. Thrasymachus of Chalcedon: sophist, from Chalcedon in Bithynia. He first developed the use of the period and the clause, and introduced the style of rhetoric currently prevailing.2 He was a pupil3 of the philosopher Plato, and of the rhetorician Isocrates. He wrote Deliberative Speeches (Symbouleutikoi [i.e. Logoi]), Handbook of Rhetoric, Trifles (Paignia),4 Starting-points for Speeches (Aphormai Rhêtorikai).

(Suda, s.v. Thrasymakhos = 85A1)

To this we may append a passage from the conclusion of Aristotle’s Sophistical Refutations, in which he is contrasting, with his accustomed modesty, his own revolutionary role in the development of logic with the gradual development of rhetoric. It is interesting for the pivotal position which he assigns to Thrasymachus in this, ignoring the claims of those whom we would regard as bigger names in the sophistic movement. In Plato’s Phaedrus (266Cff.),5 we may note, we find a more comprehensive conspectus of rhetorical theory, which features Teisias, Thrasymachus and Theodorus, but also Gorgias, Polus, Prodicus, Hippias, Protagoras and Evenus of Paros.

2. When, however, the initial step in discovery has been made, it is easier to add to it and develop the rest. And this is just what happened in rhetorical composition, and also with practically all the other arts. Those who made the initial discoveries in all cases progressed just a little way, whereas the famous modern practitioners of the art, entering into the inheritance, one might say, of a long series of predecessors who had gradually advanced it, have brought it to its present perfection – Teisias following the first inventors,6 Thrasymachus following Teisias,7 Theodorus following Thrasymachus, while many others have made numerous contributions; hence it is in no way surprising that the art has gained considerable scope.

(Aristotle, Sophistical Refutations 183b28–34 = A2, extended)

Next, a useful evaluation of his style by Dionysius of Halicarnassus, in the course of a discussion of that of Lysias. There is a further evaluation of Thrasymachus’ style by Dionysius given below, along with a specimen passage (13).

3. The next virtue I find in Lysias is a most admirable one, the inventor of which Theophrastus8 declares to be Thrasymachus, but I consider it to be Lysias.

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