sophist

From Latin sophista, also sophistes, from Ancient Greek σοφιστής (sophistḗs, “pursuer of wisdom”), from σοφίζεσθαι (sophízesthai, “become wise”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsɒfɪst/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsoʊfɪst/

sophist (plural sophists)

1. One of a class of teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, and politics in ancient Greece.
2. (loosely) A teacher who used plausible but fallacious reasoning.
3. (loosely, by extension) One who is captious, fallacious, or deceptive in argument.

• The meaning of "sophist" can vary depending on the time period to which one is referring. A sophist of the earliest period was a master in his art or craft who demonstrated (taught by example) his practical skill/learning in exchange for pay. Later sophists were providers of a well-rounded education intended to give pupils arete – "virtue, human excellence". By late antiquity, sophistḗs / sophistes tended to denote exclusively a skilled public speaker and/or teacher of rhetoric.[1][2]

• (one who is captious, fallacious, or deceptive in argument): logic chopper

• sophomore
• sophism
• sophister
• sophistress
• sophistry
• sophisticated