Sophistry

   By definition, a sophist is someone who is skilled at arguing either side of a debate, whether the sophist believes it not. Or, as Pug Mahoney would phrase it, "If you sound like you know what you're talking about, people will assume you do."
   The term originated in ancient Greece, where debaters would take turns arguing for or against a topic, and whoever made the better presentation won the contest. This art is still emphasized at law schools, and is carried forward in the profession.
   In practice, many sound impressive and the speakers convey the impression that they really know what they are talking about. But with careful listening, the talk is just that.
   Just talk, and really not worth much.
   Broadcasters have an urge to make something sound important, both in advertising and in news presentations. Everything must be made to sound like it's really important, worth listening to and that it's worth believing.
   Politicians are also skilled at this.
  And this is what gives oratory and sophistry a smudge in their reputations.
  Both terms are of Greek origin. Oratory refers to speaking, and soph- is the preliminary to many words meaning "wise."
   Originally, a sophist meant a wise person who was a teacher. But philosophers challenged the use of the word to refer to wise teachers, because the so-called wise guys were sometimes phony when they argued in favor of something they did not believe.
   Thus we have the word "sophomoric," which has come to mean not really wise or believable. Even the word sophomore combines two terms, the first portion meaning "wise," and the second attaching the term "moron."
   Can there really be a "wise moron," and is that what we hear from political candidates?