Protagoras
historical figure · 10 works · 13 mentions · 15 anchored passages
Protagoras of Abdera
spoken of as
1 expressionProtagoras of Abdera3 mentions
On the Nature of the Gods (Latin) · Stromata (Greek) · Republic (Greek)
Nay, Protagoras of Abdera, of whom you made mention just now, perhaps the greatest sophist of those times, having set down at the beginning of his book "Of the gods I am not able to say either that they are or that they are not," was by decree of the Athenians banished from city and country, and his books burned in the assembly;
in the texts
On the Nature of the Gods
Greek sophist philosopher noted for his agnosticism about the gods.
Nor does Protagoras, who says he has nothing clear to declare about the gods, whether they exist, do not exist, or what they are like, seem to have any conjecture about the nature of the gods.
but Protagoras declared himself in doubt, while Diagoras of Melos and Theodorus of Cyrene held that there are no gods at all.
I should not think even Protagoras, who was free to say neither that the gods exist nor that they do not.
Stromata
Sophist credited with originating the doctrine that an opposing argument can be set against every argument.
and since the Greeks say that, Protagoras having led the way, to every argument an argument is opposed, it is fitting that he be prepared even against such arguments.
Hearers of Democritus were Protagoras of Abdera and Metrodorus of Chios, whose pupil was Diogenes of Smyrna, whose pupil Anaxarchus, and of him Pyrrho, of whom Nausiphanes.
Nicomachean Ethics
Sophist teacher who let his pupils set the price of his instruction themselves.
This we are told was the practice of Protagoras;
Letters
Character in Plato's dialogues cited as an example of a mocked interlocutor.
in Thrasymachus assailing his boldness and rashness, in Hippias the lightness and emptiness of his mind, and in Protagoras his arrogance and pomposity.
Lucullus
Sophist credited with the relativist doctrine that truth is what seems so to each individual.
Different is the criterion of Protagoras, who thinks that to each that is true which seems so to each;
Helen
Fifth-century sophist named as the originator of the paradoxical rhetorical compositions the speaker criticizes.
but as it is, who is so backward in learning as not to know that Protagoras and the sophists of his time have left to us compositions of similar character and even far more overwrought than these?
Republic
Sophist credited with persuading contemporaries of the necessity of his teaching for governing home and city.
But are we to believe that while Protagoras of Abdera and Prodicus of Ceos and many others are able by private teaching to impress upon their contemporaries the conviction that they will not be capable of governing their homes or the city unless they put them in charge of their education, and make themselves so beloved for this wisdom that their companions all but carry them about on their shoulde …
Letters to Lucilius
Greek sophist philosopher known for relativism
Protagoras says that on every matter one can argue on either side with equal force, and on this very point, whether every matter is debatable on either side.
If I believe Protagoras, there is nothing in the nature of things but the doubtful;
De Anima
Sophist cited as holding perception resides in the heart's blood.
‘For in man the blood about the heart is perception.
Symposium
A sophist named as one of Callias' paid teachers of wisdom.
for you have yourself paid a good deal of money for wisdom to Protagoras, Gorgias, Prodicus, and many others, while you see that we are what you might call amateurs in philosophy;