The Sophists.

The Sophists. By: Jesús del Cid Moses Robles.

In ancient Greece there was a group of intellectuals who called themselves sophists call (the sage of profession). Those who managed to have great influence on the Greek youth as they had large dowry of rhetoric and dialectic.
Quite the opposite of its intended intellectual philosophers was not the pursuit of truth, but rather to achieve a high prestige in his disciples and listeners thus obtaining political hierarchy, social and monetary.
At first, the quip was not considered shameful, but to go degenerating this movement came only dealt with half profit. Manipulating the Greek society and even arguments with false notions only by obtaining some useful material.
Through their education and influence the sophist was considered the intellectual and charismatic image of knowledge. Being appreciated by much of the social elite of Athens.
Sophist thought to the truth depends on the subject of interpretation and vision of each person. Good and evil depend on one's perspective is valued with an event or situation, like the true and false.
"Everything is relative."
"Man is the measure of things."
"The truth does not exist".
"There are no truths, only opinions."
"Each person sees the world in their own way and convenience".

Precursors were exaggerated use of opinion no matter whether these views were absurd and without foundation in reality. Causing extensive damage to education and training of young Greeks.
Sophists were two thinkers who emphasized in this movement Letini Protagoras and Gorgias.
The quip was widely criticized and corrected by the great intellectuals of ancient Greece, but especially by Plato and Aristotle Socrates. Who referred to them as:
Merchants of soul. Socrates.

The Sophist do care about the truth of an instrument of power and wealth, often through deception. Plato.
The sophistication is apparent wisdom, but it is not. Aristotle.

Today we see reflected greatly the Sophistic movement. Especially when we perceive as published lectures, books, articles and other commodity-like personal development. Who with great sentimental arguments used and removed from all true knowledge become excellent networks to profit from society. Regardless of whether they actually help people overcome but simply to gain fame, money and power.
For the sophistry knowledge has a profit, being for the philosopher a path to human fulfillment.