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چکیده
In his Elements of Logic (1836), Richard Whately conjures up an illogical antagonist with whom to contest his points, particularly on the efficacy of the fallacies. This device constitutes a kind of running dialogue between himself as the epitome of reason and a champion of unreason. The antagonist is simply called “the Sophist.” He acts deliberately to obscure and disguise expressions, while hoping they appear as simple as possible (161). “Sophistry,” Whately writes, “like poison, is at once detected, and nauseated, when presented to us in a concentrated form” (162), but the wily Sophist dilutes his deceptions, thereby making them more virulent.When he cannot prove his point, he distracts his audience so as to avoid the need for a proof (193), and he generally stands to represent all that can be understood by the term ‘unreason’.This is a devastating portrait. It makes of the Sophist a thoroughly unpalatable character. Our question, though, has to do with the origin of this idea and whether it accurately approximates any historical Sophist who would have acknowledged the title.Whately’s depiction is a common one, influenced in no small part by the tradition that comes down to us from Plato and Aristotle and sees them as the philosophers, logical in thought and purpose, resisting the encroachments of the Sophists, illogical in all respects.
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