Origins - Tzadok and Boethus

"Antignus of Socho, who received the Torah from Shimon Hatzadik and served as the teacher of his generation, delivered a lecture in which he said, “Be not like slaves who serve their master for the sake of receiving a reward; rather be like slaves who serve their master not for the sake of receiving a reward, and let the fear of Heaven be upon you” (Avot 1:3).
Avot D’Rabbi Nathan (2:5) relates: “Antignus had two disciples who misinterpreted his saying, and taught to their disciples and their disciples to their disciples, saying, ‘Why did our rabbis see fit to say a thing like this? It is possible, then, that a workman upon completing his day’s work will not receive his wages in the evening? If our rabbis would be convinced that there is a future world and that there will be resurrection of the dead, they would not have said this.’ ” From these two disciples, Tzadok and Boethus, there arose two heretical sects, the Tzedokim — Sadducees — and the Baitusim. They were called “Tzedokin” after their founder Tzadok, and “Boethusians” after their founder Boethus."


This is the Rabbinic narrative of the origins of the Sadducean sect,  and  hence the Karaite ideology.

However, the Sadduceans and their followers make different claims - that they are in fact of the Priestly house of the Biblical Zadok -

Ezekiel Chapter 43 יְחֶזְקֵאל

19 Thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that are of the seed of Zadok, who are near unto Me, to minister unto Me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin-offering.


For the Rabbis, there was always an Oral Law, and its detractors arrived late on the scene, whereas for the Karaites it is the other way around.

The arguments I have brought on this blog  attempt to work from the TNK as the main source and point out contradictions  by later claimants.