Explain how Oedipus the King could be read as Sophocles’ response to the Sophists.
MY ANSWER IS BELOW HOWEVER I NEED TO ADD A DISCUSSION OF THE GODS IN IT. PLEASE EDIT IN INTO THE ALREADY WRITTEN ANSWER
Oedipus the King by Sophocles might be seen as a reaction to the Sophists, a group of ancient Greek philosophers who claimed that knowledge and truth were subjective and relative. The Sophists contended that the truth was relative and dependent on one’s viewpoint. This concept stood in stark contrast to the old Greek view that truth was absolute and could be reached via reason and reasoning.
In Oedipus the King, Sophocles provides a narrative in which the truth is revealed via a mix of reason and intuition, rather than being absolute. Oedipus is shown as a guy who is determined to discover the truth about his history but is unable to accomplish it using just logic. To discover the truth, he must depend on his intuition and the counsel of others. This is a direct answer to the Sophists’ view that truth is subjective and can only be found via individual viewpoints.
In addition, Oedipus’ quest for truth directly challenges the Sophists’ idea that knowledge is subjective. Oedipus is shown as a guy who will discover the truth no matter the cost. He is prepared to sacrifice his own life to seek the truth, so challenging the Sophists’ notion that knowledge is subjective and relative.
Oedipus’ quest for the truth is a direct challenge to the Sophists’ assumption that knowledge equals power. Oedipus is shown as a man prepared to sacrifice his life to seek the truth, and in doing so, he questions the Sophists’ assumption that knowledge equals power. Oedipus is shown as a man prepared to sacrifice his life to seek the truth, and in doing so, he questions the Sophists’ assumption that knowledge equals power
Oedipus’ quest for the truth is a direct challenge to the Sophists’ assumption that knowledge equals power. Oedipus is shown as a man prepared to sacrifice his life to seek the truth, and in doing so, he questions the Sophists’ assumption that knowledge equals power. Oedipus is shown as a man prepared to sacrifice his life to seek the truth, and in doing so, he questions the Sophists’ assumption that knowledge equals power
