Protagorasthe first sophist

Pierre Gergis

Biography490-420 B.C.

In Plato’s Protagoras dialogue, he states that he is old enough to be the father of any of them, even Socrates.

In Plato’s Meno dialogue, Plato states that Protagoras had taught for 40 years and had died at the age of 70.

Thus we conclude this timeline of his life.

Biography (cont.)

Born in the city of Abdera, part of Thrace

He shared this birthplace with Democritus.

A Friend of Pericles, his primary place of teaching was Athens.

Biography (cont.)The legend of his death follows that he was indicted by the Athenians as an atheist. His books were burned and as he fled to sicily, he drowned in the sea.

In reality he was more of an agnostic:

“Concerning the gods, I have no means of knowing whether they exist or not or of what sort they may be, because of the obscurity of the subject, and the brevity of human life.”

Teachings

Protagoras taught grammar and rhetoric. He also taught the interpretation of poetry.

He is considered the first sophist, and has a dialogue by Plato named after him in which he converses with Socrates, among others. More on that later.

SophistsSophists were wandering scholars and philosophers who made a living from what they taught.

Sophists were not respected by some philosophers, specifically Socrates.

They were often easily undermined by careful thinkers, but they made money anyhow by having attractive ideas and pervasive influence.

Sophists (cont.)Of course, the proud protagoras claimed that sophism is an ancient and honorable art, and one practiced by Homer and Hesiod.

These venerated poets apparently used their other arts as shields from charges that could otherwise be brought against them.

He was nobler than the artists and musicians of old in that he was straightforward about his intentions.

“Man is the measure of all things: of things which are, that they are, and of things which are not, that they are not.”

PhilosophyTraditionally, the category of philosophy he practiced is known as Ionian Philosophy.

His method of teaching was marked by criticism. The “presocratic dialectic” style, as it came to be known, is demonstrative and often considered dogmatic.

Protagoras contributed the concept of discounting the viable argument and strengthening the “weaker” one.

Philosophy (cont.)

That radical concept in particular influenced probably every philosopher since then. Socrates himself was executed for “strengthening the weaker argument.”

Philosophy (cont.)

Protagoras’ main concern was not to find truth, like most philosophers of his day and later, but rather to question whether or not absolute truth actually existed.

Philosophy (cont.)His belief was that nothing can be exclusively good or bad, true or false. He concluded that there is, then, no general or objective truth.

Plato describes Protagoras’ claim that crime is punished to prevent the crime’s reoccurrence, not for revenge.

His claims concerning truth, though completely discounted during his time, seem to have made a resurgence.

Philosophy (cont.)

Though often considered foolish by other philosophers of his time, his ideas were radical and have lasted to this day.

Today, though few realize his contributions, the concept of questioning absolute truth has remained a tradition.

Philosophy (cont.)His famous quote concerning man as the “measure of all things” opens one of his works, entitled Truth or refutatory arguments.

Some of his other works are known, but he is sure to have written many more, few of which survive.

A lot of what we know of him comes from his dialogue with Socrates as recorded by Plato.

The DialogueIn essence, the dialogue is a defense of sophist practices by Protagoras to Socrates.

Protagoras claims that sophism makes students into good citizens and that his high way of life is to impart his wisdom of virtue to the youth.

Socrates argues that, though technical thinking can be taught, virtue cannot, and cites Protagoras’ own children as examples. Though present, they do not defend themselves.

The Dialogue (cont.)

Socrates also complains that Protagoras is long-winded, like a gong that booms when you strike it and will not stop until you lay a hand on it.

The Dialogue (cont.)

Protagoras and Socrates digress frequently throughout their conversation, even discussing poetry and Spartan sophistical skills.

The Protagoras crater on the Moon, named in his honor