All translations are from this edition unless otherwise. For a concise exposition of vlastos similarity thesis, and problems which it poses, cfr devereux 1992. The protagoras, like several of the dialogues of plato, is put into the mouth of socrates, who describes a conversation which had taken place between himself and the great sophist at the house of calliasthe man who had spent more upon the sophists than all the rest of the worldand in which the learned hippias and the grammarian prodicus had also shared, as well as alcibiades and critias. The main argument is between socrates and the elderly protagoras, a celebrated sophist and philosopher. As a result he is forced to adopt a strained interpretation of the. Introduction in the protagoras, plato has socrates premise his final argument on hedonism, the doctrine that the pleasant is the good. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The traditional subtitle which may or may not be platos is or the sophists. Barney 2006, 86n16 claims that plato intends for the protagoras of the one dialogue to be inconsistent with the protagoras of the other. Plato has provided us with a good imitation of the historical protagoras, and b that his protagoras is setting out, behind a veil of myth, a presocratic theory about the nondivine, natural origins of life, humanity and morality, and c that platos readers would have connected the story with the views of democritus in particular. Socrates says it cannot, and as evidence for this he. Guide questions for platos protagoras university of alberta. I take the liberty of inviting you to read my paper with its references to taylors commentary and. Persons of the dialogue socrates, who is the narrator of the dialogue to his companion.
From criticism of the educational aims and methods of the sophists the dialogue broadens out to consider the nature of the good life, and the role of. In classical times this dialog was also titled sophists and was said to illustrate the method of critical objections diog. Taylor, in his commentary on the protagoras, follows adkins, as does. Socrates engages in dialogues with other characterswith protagoras, with prodicus, and so onbut these dialogues bear traces of another dialogue taking place in this text. Hedonism in platos protagoras the classical quarterly.
Buy protagoras oxford worlds classics by plato, taylor, c. In my as yet unpublished paper on the protagoras, the views of taylor are contested on some points and cited with agreement with others. The protagoras, like several of the dialogues of plato, is put into the mouth of socrates, who describes a conversation which had taken place between himself and the great sophist at the house of calliasthe man who had spent more upon the sophists than all the rest of the worldand in which the learned hippias and the grammarian prodicus had also shared, as well as alcibiades and. Taylors translation with commentary complete with biographical notes, bibliography and indices of platos protagoras. The philosopher, socrates looks forward to his arrival, and the insightful conversations his presence will bring. From this influence plato passed into contact with socrates. Platos shorter ethical works stanford encyclopedia of. Essays on the confrontation of philosophy and sophistry, springer, 2017, 235pp. The story in the protagoras university of massachusetts. Taylor is inclined to include protagoras with plato s outstanding dialogues, namely symposium, phaedo and the republic 1932. Companion socrates hippocrates alcibiades critias protagoras hippias prodicus sophists callias scene. Protagoras is one of the early dialogues of plato, where the celebrated philosopher socrates and the sophist protagoras are involved in a discussion. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. Platos protagoras and the frontier of genre research.
In the fifth century bc professional educators, the sophists, travelled the greek world claiming to teach success in public and private life. When his young friend, hippocrates, wishes to become a student of protagoras, socrates begins to question what it is that such a man teaches. The extract contains a theory of moral education, and a theory of punishment. Translations from the protagoras and the republic of plato new york. Despite its name and principal character, what is not discussed in this particular dialog are protagoras famous doctrines man.
Download acommentaryonplatosprotagoras ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Introduction in the protagoras plato represents, with the highest degree of dramatic artistry. This is a chapter from my book socrates moral philosophy in everyday life if you are ignorant on what a sophist is, you dont even know to whom you intend to deliver your soul 312c plato, protagoras. Platoprotagoras wikibooks, open books for an open world. What quality attracts socrates to both alcibiades and protagoras. The theme of the dialogue is the learnability of virtue. The dialogue takes place in the house of callias, the host of protagoras during his stay in athens. This chapter focuses on the protagoras, where plato appears to defend a wholeheartedly hedonistic position. Protagoras by plato translated by benjamin jowett socrates takes on protagoras, the most famous sophist in greece. Antihedonist works include taylor 1927, grube 1933, sullivan. Protagoras, plato, aristotle, georg wilhelm friedrich hegel, friedrich nietzsche. In this dialogue plato shows the pretensions of the leading sophist, protagoras, challenged by the critical arguments of socrates. The annenberg cpbproject provided support for entering this text. Four main questions which centre on the protagoras must be answered to have an intelligible picture of the development of platos views on pleasure.
Hippocrates sees a direct and efficient route to politics in the instruction of protagoras, just as plato saw a direct route to political influence in his relatives among the thirty. Essays on the confrontation of philosophy and sophistry. Taylor suggests that, while protagoras succeeds in saying some things that are true about virtue, he also succeeds in refuting himself. Platos protagoras and the frontier of genre research citeseerx. Plato the protagoras university of massachusetts boston. Several comments have been posted about protagoras. Socrates, who is the narrator of the dialogue to his companion. Pdf there are few, but not inconsequential themes perpetually under consideration within platos protagoras, these include.
What might be the philosophical significance of asking this question. Pdf a discourse on human nature, the good and the bad in. Summary this dialogue begins when protagoras the sophist pays a visit to athens. Find out on the feel free to contact me with any question or comments, negative. Taylors protagoras is the latest volume in the clarendon plato series, which aims to give a translation and a detailed philosophical commentary on. Plato never appears in the dialogue, but his shaping hand is always present. Burch guide questions for reading platos protagoras phil 230 309a310a 1. Protagoras or presentations of him in other platonic dialogues. Plato the protagoras penguin books, 2005, pages 1530 in this extract, plato presents the sophist. The house of callias translated by benjamin jowett 25 pages part 1 greek fonts search platos works plato anthology the greek word library note by elpenor. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Taylor 1991 translation and critical commentary for oxfords clarendon.
Psychology, philosophy of mind publisher methuen and company limited. The bibliography has also been extended to include titles published up to 1990. The first is the euthyphro, which shows socrates discussing reverence as he is about to report to court for. Why for socrates might conversation with protagoras be preferable to the. Protagoras plays an important role in plato s dialogues, one of which is named protagoras and involves a fictional, yet realistic, conversation between the sophist and socrates. Pdf a short history of protagoras philosophy researchgate. Purchase a copy of this text not necessarily the same edition from. Get into pleasure, evil, knowledge and virtue with this classic dialogue. Plato has provided us with a good imitation of the historical protagoras, and b that his protagoras is setting out, behind a veil of myth, a presocratic theory about the nondivine, natural origins of life, humanity and morality, and c that plato s readers would have connected the story with the views of democritus in particular. The dialogues of plato, translated into english with analyses and introductions third edition, 5 volumes. In one of platos most noted texts, socrates meets protagoras, with whom he disagrees on whether political virtue can be taught. The great speech and the hedonism of platos protagoras.
But most importantly, it is a discussion of the principles of democracy. The protagoras thus begins with a figure similar to the one we find in the seventh letter. Protagoras by plato in djvu, doc, epub download ebook. Some accounts of the protagoras adam and adam 1893, frede 1992 do not even try to fit that dialogues protagoras to the claim that man is the measure, and another taylor 1991, 100103. The unity of courage and wisdom in platos protagoras. Site map platos dialogs selections and comments platos protagoras selections comments. The discussion takes place at the home of callias, who is host to protagoras while he is in town, and concerns. Taylor, who claims that the primary philosophical view the dialogue does. Plato 428427 or 424423 bc 348347 bc was a philosopher, as well as mathematician, in classical greece and an influential figure in philosophy.
View homework help taylor protagoras introduction from phil 14992 at northeastern university. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. Protagoras plays an important role in platos dialogues, one of which is named protagoras and involves a fictional, yet realistic, conversation between the sophist and socrates. Taylor is inclined to include protagoras with platos outstanding dialogues, namely symposium, phaedo and the republic 1932. Another dialogue is named after a young boy named theaetetus and involves a discussion between he, socrates, and theodorus who is a friend of protagoras. Anti hedonist works include taylor 1927, grube 1933, sullivan. Taylor has made a number of changes in the translation and commentary, and has added a new preface and introduction. Against hedonist interpretations of platos protagoras core. At the center of platos shorter ethical works is the apology of socrates, which consists of a speech purportedly given by socrates at his trial, and is probably the closest of platos works to the historical socrates.
373 1451 103 620 477 615 817 534 274 485 129 945 984 34 17 176 803 84 708 790 625 865 1006 664 478 125 1310 982 1286 740 429 345 521 1285 671 1436 795 1290 1112 1023 1440 1136 1444 210 208