What little we know of the history of Sophistry (as a philosophical school) comes to us through the writings of Plato, who was openly hostile to the Sophists. Almost all of the theoretical writings of the original Greek Sophist philosophers have been lost, so what little we do know of their basic ideas has been transmitted to us through the filter of the chief adversary of that school. This is somewhat ironic, since Plato's master Socrates arguably is the supreme practioner of the Sophist's method, while yet steadfastly denying that he is a Sophist! Socrates/Plato accomplishes this tour de force by consistently claiming to be investigating only sublime topics, such as the Good, the True and the Beautiful--and thereby seems to be championing a Higher Purpose in life, an "Ideal" conception, rather than the grubby materialism of the Sophists. --JohnReynoldsTheStudent