Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus

Use in the book

Demodocus initially reports the boy's demand that a sophist be paid to make him wise, and says he has brought him to introduce him to those thought to be sophists (121d–122a). The category is therefore present before any kind of wisdom has been defined. Socrates' questioning shows why the practical referral cannot responsibly precede that clarification.

Near 128a Socrates offers the named teachers as an alternative if Theages despises the statesmen's company and seeks those who profess educational ability. Their striking accomplishment is that they persuade privileged young men to leave free civic associations, pay a fee and be grateful. This is an account of attraction and persuasion, not a demonstration of what those pupils learn. Its irony does not justify assigning a false promise to each individual that the text never quotes.

Socrates contrasts their “blessed and fine subjects” with his own limited avowal of knowledge. The language distinguishes a professional educational claim from the uncertain benefits he later describes. Yet the passage neither refutes every sophist nor establishes the wisdom of the statesmen: Theages has already challenged the latter's ability to teach. Both familiar routes have been placed under question.

The source note characterizes Prodicus by verbal distinctions, Gorgias by rhetoric and Polus as Gorgias' pupil. These are useful identifications, not a three-part course syllabus contained in the dialogue. The specific contents of their instruction remain unnamed here. Their geographical labels likewise identify persons and exemplify teachers moving into cities; they do not supply ethnic explanations of ability.

Places to read

1. 121dτινὶ τῶν σοφιστῶν — A sophist is imagined as the paid agent who will make the boy wise
2. 127eοἳ παιδεύειν ἐπαγγέλλονται οἷοί τε εἶναι — The relevant claim is the professed capacity to educate
3. 127e–128aΠρόδικος ὁ Κεῖος καὶ Γοργίας ὁ Λεοντῖνος καὶ Πῶλος ὁ Ἀκραγαντῖνος — The named alternatives and their civic origins
4. 128aπείθουσιν … αὐτοῖς συνεῖναι — Their persuasive success brings the young into their company

Translation in this edition

The supplied note compares Apology 19e–20a, where a similar sentence names Gorgias, Prodicus and Hippias. The third name here is Polus. Preserving that difference is preferable to silently harmonizing related passages. The translation “profess” leaves open the question of performance without deciding it by the choice of an accusatory word.

Gorgias — Γοργίας (Gorgias)

Γοργίας (Gorgias)

Gorgias. The named teacher of Leontini, grouped with Prodicus and Polus. Attested: Γοργίας (127e). Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus.

Of Acragas — Ἀκραγαντῖνος (Akragantinos)

Ἀκραγαντῖνος (Akragantinos)

Of Acragas. Polus' civic origin in the identification of the educational alternatives. Attested: Ἀκραγαντῖνος (128a). Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus.

Of Ceos — Κεῖος (Keios)

Κεῖος (Keios)

Of Ceos. Prodicus' civic origin in the printed Greek; not the different place suggested by a variant spelling. Attested: Κεῖος (127e). Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus.

Of Leontini — Λεοντῖνος (Leontinos)

Λεοντῖνος (Leontinos)

Of Leontini. Gorgias' civic origin, used to identify the teacher. Attested: Λεοντῖνος (128a). Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus.

Persuade — πείθειν (peithein)

πείθειν (peithein)

Persuade. Induce wellborn wealthy youths to choose paid company over available free associations. Attested: πείθουσι (128a). Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus.

Polus — Πῶλος (Pōlos)

Πῶλος (Pōlos)

Polus. The teacher of Acragas named here; the parallel list in Apology has Hippias instead. Attested: Πῶλος (128a). Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus.

Prodicus — Πρόδικος (Prodikos)

Πρόδικος (Prodikos)

Prodicus. The named teacher from Ceos, offered as an example of those professing educational ability. Attested: Πρόδικος (127e). Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus.

Profess — ἐπαγγέλλεσθαι (epangellesthai)

ἐπαγγέλλεσθαι (epangellesthai)

Profess. Publicly claim the capacity to educate young people; a claim distinguished from demonstrated benefit. Attested: ἐπαγγέλλονται (127e). Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus.

Thought to be — δοκεῖν (dokein)

δοκεῖν (dokein)

Thought to be. The proposed teachers are qualified by reputation as sophists rather than verified competence. Attested: δοκούντων (122a). Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus.

Sophist — σοφιστής (sophistēs)

σοφιστής (sophistēs)

Sophist. A paid educator from whom the boy expects wisdom, before the relevant wisdom has been specified. Attested: σοφιστῶν (121d). Sophists Prodicus Gorgias and Polus.

A fee and gratitude besides (contextual phrase)

128a: καὶ χάριν πρὸς τούτοις εἰδέναι. Literally “know gratitude in addition to these things”, the idiom means be grateful besides paying. Socrates emphasizes the persuasive achievement of the teachers who can obtain both payment and thanks from young people with free alternatives. The idiom is not a further subject of factual knowledge taught by the sophists. See Sophists.