Thrasymachus c. 459 BC – c. 400 BC
Thrasymachus (c. 459 BC – c. 400 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Sophism and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
Thrasymachus of Chalcedon was a Greek sophist of late fifth-century BC Athens and one of the most celebrated rhetoricians of his generation. His own writings on rhetoric and politics survive only in fragments, but he is best known as the spokesman of the famous thesis, presented in the first book of Plato's Republic, that justice is nothing other than the advantage of the stronger. The clarity, force, and discomfort of that argument made it the starting point of Plato's long inquiry into the nature of justice. Aristotle and later doxographers credit him with significant innovations in prose rhythm and the rhetoric of pity.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Greek
- Era
- Ancient
- Movements
- Sophism, Ancient Greek Philosophy
Selected quotes
-
Attributed to Thrasymachus:
“Justice is the advantage of the stronger.”
-
Attributed to Thrasymachus:
“Each form of government makes laws for its own benefit.”
-
Attributed to Thrasymachus:
“The strong rule and call it just.”
-
Attributed to Thrasymachus:
“Most people obey the laws because they cannot break them.”
-
Attributed to Thrasymachus:
“Rhetoric well used is the gateway to political power.”
Thrasymachus by topic
Thrasymachus vs other philosophers
Frequently asked about Thrasymachus
- When did Thrasymachus live?
- Thrasymachus was born in c. 459 BC and died in c. 400 BC.
- Where was Thrasymachus from?
- Thrasymachus was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era.
- What philosophical movements is Thrasymachus associated with?
- Thrasymachus was associated with Sophism and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
- What was Thrasymachus known for?
- Thrasymachus of Chalcedon was a Greek sophist of late fifth-century BC Athens and one of the most celebrated rhetoricians of his generation.
- How many quotes are attributed to Thrasymachus?
- There are 7 attributed quotations from Thrasymachus in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.