Answer to Question 1
The Sophists were an influential group of traveling educators who, for a fee, would teach people how to argue persuasively.
- Many Sophists were relativists and skeptics, philosophical views that contend that knowledge is only a matter of opinion and truth is always relative to a particular context.
- Socrates was convinced that reason is the path to the truth.
Answer to Question 2
Socrates believed that his special wisdom consisted in his ability to stimulate and guide others in the philosophical exploration of profound questions, enabling them to give birth to their own understanding.
- Socrates believed the Oracle at Delphi called him the wisest man to make the point that his wisdom lies in knowing that he is not wise. Less wise people believe themselves to be wise.