ABSTRACT
Any attempt to discuss the Greek sophists as precursors of current developments in informal logic is problematic. Strictly speaking, there is little, if any, direct connection between sophistical and contemporary thought on valid inference in the domain of practical affairs. Even so, we still hold onto the belief that current notions are neither entirely random nor completely unique. In other words, we still believe that our notions are somehow tied to the notions of our predecessors, who include the sophists. Therefore, so the thinking goes, if the proper understanding of our present views on informal logic demands that we come to terms with our distant past, it behooves us to inquire into earlier thinking about this important area of study.
