Dialogue

  1 Intro|                   INTRODUCTION~The Protagoras, like several of the Dialogues
  2 Intro|         consisting of disciples of Protagoras and of leading Athenians
  3 Intro|      advises him to find out ‘what Protagoras will make of him,’ before
  4 Intro|          purpose of their visit to Protagoras, asks the question, ‘What
  5 Intro|         will make of Hippocrates.’ Protagoras answers, ‘That he will make
  6 Intro|        have a more precise answer. Protagoras replies, ‘That he will teach
  7 Intro|        knowledge can be taught, if Protagoras had not assured him of the
  8 Intro|        sons political virtue. Will Protagoras answer these objections?~
  9 Intro|           answer these objections?~Protagoras explains his views in the
 10 Intro|            in a degree. Some, like Protagoras, are better than others,
 11 Intro|            with the explanation of Protagoras. But he has still a doubt
 12 Intro|       doubt lingering in his mind. Protagoras has spoken of the virtues:
 13 Intro|           names of the same thing? Protagoras replies that they are parts,
 14 Intro|           Then justice is unholy.’ Protagoras would rather say that justice
 15 Intro|          be compared with justice.~Protagoras, whose temper begins to
 16 Intro|          and therefore he must beg Protagoras to speak shorter. As Protagoras
 17 Intro|    Protagoras to speak shorter. As Protagoras declines to accommodate
 18 Intro|       unreasonable in not allowing Protagoras the liberty which he takes
 19 Intro|      inability to speak long; will Protagoras in like manner acknowledge
 20 Intro|       suggest as a compromise that Protagoras shall ask and he will answer,
 21 Intro|         will answer, and that when Protagoras is tired of asking he himself
 22 Intro|            he himself will ask and Protagoras shall answer. To this the
 23 Intro|         yields a reluctant assent.~Protagoras selects as his thesis a
 24 Intro|         Prodicus assents; but when Protagoras reclaims, Socrates slily
 25 Intro|        flatteries are addressed to Protagoras by Callias and Socrates,
 26 Intro|         are one or many?’ To which Protagoras is now disposed to reply,
 27 Intro|       knowledge—an inference which Protagoras evades by drawing a futile
 28 Intro|            and pain the only evil? Protagoras seems to doubt the morality
 29 Intro|           that knowledge is power? Protagoras agrees that knowledge is
 30 Intro|          conducted by Socrates and Protagoras on the one part, and the
 31 Intro|           and Prodicus, as well as Protagoras, admit the soundness of
 32 Intro|     coalesce in one. The assent of Protagoras to this last position is
 33 Intro|       adversary had changed sides. Protagoras began by asserting, and
 34 Intro|     teachable of all things, while Protagoras has been striving to show
 35 Intro|           enquiry with the help of Protagoras in a different order, asking (
 36 Intro|      Whether virtue can be taught. Protagoras declines this offer, but
 37 Intro|           style of discussion.~The Protagoras is often supposed to be
 38 Intro|             The exact place of the Protagoras among the Dialogues, and
 39 Intro|     commentators, who imagine that Protagoras the Sophist ought always
 40 Intro|            nature is recognized by Protagoras himself. Hippocrates readily
 41 Intro|    Socrates that he shall learn of Protagoras only the accomplishments
 42 Intro|      anything in the sentiments of Protagoras which impairs this pleasing
 43 Intro|          much truth on the side of Protagoras as of Socrates; but the
 44 Intro|         Socrates; but the truth of Protagoras is based on common sense
 45 Intro|       ideas. But to a great extent Protagoras has the best of the argument
 46 Intro|        pleasure is the only good,’ Protagoras deems it more in accordance
 47 Intro|          is depicting an imaginary Protagoras; he seems to be showing
 48 Intro|      returns to the beginning. Had Protagoras been allowed by Plato to
 49 Intro|           victory of Socrates over Protagoras is in every way complete
 50 Intro|           fairly brought together. Protagoras falls before him after two
 51 Intro|     subjected to ‘the question’ by Protagoras. He succeeds in making his
 52 Intro|        memory, and that he and not Protagoras is really a master in the
 53 Intro|      argument only, but both, when Protagoras begins to break down. Against
 54 Intro|   authority of the poets with whom Protagoras has ingeniously identified
 55 Intro|         poets, the Laconizers, and Protagoras are satirized at the same
 56 Intro|          certainly the question of Protagoras, how the two passages of
 57 Intro|      evidently with an allusion to Protagoras’ long speeches. (3) The
 58 Intro|          doctrines of Socrates and Protagoras, and is a facetious commentary
 59 Intro|          intended to contrast with Protagoras’ exaltation of the study
 60 Intro|          advanced for the Poets by Protagoras; the mistake of the Laconizing
 61 Intro|       great dramatic work like the Protagoras are not easily exhausted.
 62 Intro|    Socrates in the second part for Protagoras in the first. The characters
 63 Intro|            It may be remarked that Protagoras is consistently presented
 64 Intro|     dialectic which has overthrown Protagoras has carried himself round
 65 Intro|     therefore, and not Socrates or Protagoras, has won the day.~But is
 66 Intro|    considered in what relation the Protagoras stands to the other Dialogues
 67 Intro|        spirit. The affinity of the Protagoras to the Meno is more doubtful.
 68 Intro| corrections of the teaching of the Protagoras; in all of them the doctrine
 69  Prot|                                    PROTAGORAS~PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE:
 70  Prot|            Alcibiades and Critias. Protagoras, Hippias and Prodicus (Sophists).
 71  Prot|            to accord that title to Protagoras.~COMPANION: What! Is Protagoras
 72  Prot|    Protagoras.~COMPANION: What! Is Protagoras in Athens?~SOCRATES: Yes;
 73  Prot|        drew nearer to me and said: Protagoras is come.~Yes, I replied;
 74  Prot|             my brother said to me: Protagoras is come. I was going to
 75  Prot|            What is the matter? Has Protagoras robbed you of anything?~
 76  Prot|       breaks, then we will go. For Protagoras is generally at home, and
 77  Prot|          said, as you are going to Protagoras, and will be paying your
 78  Prot|             you and I are going to Protagoras, and we are ready to pay
 79  Prot|           you Hippocrates, what is Protagoras, and why are you going to
 80  Prot|            appellation is given to Protagoras? how is he designated?~They
 81  Prot|          about yourself? What will Protagoras make of you, if you go to
 82  Prot|            that the instruction of Protagoras is of this nature: may you
 83  Prot|         account of the teaching of Protagoras.~I said: I wonder whether
 84  Prot|          all hazards be a pupil of Protagoras, and are prepared to expend
 85  Prot|            safely buy knowledge of Protagoras or of any one; but if not,
 86  Prot|           were intending, and hear Protagoras; and when we have heard
 87  Prot|            others; for not only is Protagoras at the house of Callias,
 88  Prot|        Callias, but we want to see Protagoras; and I must request you
 89  Prot|          When we entered, we found Protagoras taking a walk in the cloister;
 90  Prot|            of all the disciples of Protagoras is the most famous, and
 91  Prot|    appeared to be foreigners, whom Protagoras had brought with him out
 92  Prot|          us, and then walked up to Protagoras, and I said: Protagoras,
 93  Prot|            Protagoras, and I said: Protagoras, my friend Hippocrates and
 94  Prot|           When we were all seated, Protagoras said: Now that the company
 95  Prot|           again at the same point, Protagoras, and tell you once more
 96  Prot|             I have no more to say.~Protagoras answered: Young man, if
 97  Prot|         When I heard this, I said: Protagoras, I do not at all wonder
 98  Prot|           in like manner,—in what, Protagoras, will he be better? and
 99  Prot|       better? and about what?~When Protagoras heard me say this, he replied:
100  Prot|        will freely confess to you, Protagoras, that I have a doubt whether
101  Prot|         friend or stranger. Now I, Protagoras, having these examples before
102  Prot|       there is still hope of them.~Protagoras ended, and in my ear~‘So
103  Prot|          have missed the speech of Protagoras for a great deal. For I
104  Prot|    difficulty which I am sure that Protagoras will easily explain, as
105  Prot|           them; whereas our friend Protagoras can not only make a good
106  Prot|           a very rare gift. Now I, Protagoras, want to ask of you a little
107  Prot|         were to ask us, saying, ‘O Protagoras, and you, Socrates, what
108  Prot|           only asked the question; Protagoras gave the answer.’ And suppose
109  Prot|           and said, ‘Is this true, Protagoras? and do you maintain that
110  Prot|         said, Socrates.~Well then, Protagoras, we will assume this; and
111  Prot|           one opposite?~Yes.~Then, Protagoras, which of the two assertions
112  Prot|      temperance? Is not that true, Protagoras? What else would you say?~
113  Prot|          nearly the same. And now, Protagoras, I said, we must finish
114  Prot|          both be put on our trial.~Protagoras at first made a show of
115  Prot|          them good.~I thought that Protagoras was getting ruffled and
116  Prot|        gently said:—~When you say, Protagoras, that things inexpedient
117  Prot|           cheered him. And I said: Protagoras, I have a wretched memory,
118  Prot|           another, and the name of Protagoras would have been nowhere.~
119  Prot|           conversation; so I said: Protagoras, I do not wish to force
120  Prot|        better than to hear you and Protagoras discourse. Do not deny the
121  Prot|            you want to hear me and Protagoras discoursing, you must ask
122  Prot|       Socrates, said Callias, that Protagoras may fairly claim to speak
123  Prot|         this he yields the palm to Protagoras: but I should be greatly
124  Prot|   apprehending an argument. Now if Protagoras will make a similar admission,
125  Prot|          be more in the right than Protagoras; that is my view, and every
126  Prot|          to me to be a partisan of Protagoras: and this led Alcibiades,
127  Prot|           either of Socrates or of Protagoras; let us rather unite in
128  Prot|          as Critias would beg you, Protagoras and Socrates, to grant our
129  Prot|            do pray and advise you, Protagoras, and you, Socrates, to agree
130  Prot|           brevity in discourse, if Protagoras objects, but loosen and
131  Prot|            to you. Neither do you, Protagoras, go forth on the gale with
132  Prot|          any one who is wiser than Protagoras. And if you choose another
133  Prot|            go on as you desire. If Protagoras is not disposed to answer,
134  Prot|            generally approved, and Protagoras, though very much against
135  Prot|          you, for I am afraid that Protagoras will make an end of Simonides.
136  Prot|           blames Pittacus, not, as Protagoras imagines, for repeating
137  Prot|         would maintain that being, Protagoras, is not the same as becoming;
138  Prot|            heard and approved; but Protagoras said: Your correction, Socrates,
139  Prot|          correcting.~Alas! I said, Protagoras; then I am a sorry physician,
140  Prot|       moment; for he has a wisdom, Protagoras, which, as I imagine, is
141  Prot|           of praise. If I say that Protagoras or any one else is an ‘awfully’
142  Prot|           is natural.~Do you hear, Protagoras, I asked, what our friend
143  Prot|           mistaken, Prodicus, said Protagoras; and I know very well that
144  Prot|           also incline to believe, Protagoras, that this was the meaning
145  Prot|         listener.~To this proposal Protagoras replied: As you please;—
146  Prot|          like the Sophists of whom Protagoras was speaking, and not by
147  Prot|         this, I said, Prodicus and Protagoras, I take to be the meaning
148  Prot|          made between Socrates and Protagoras, to the effect that as long
149  Prot|         the effect that as long as Protagoras is willing to ask, Socrates
150  Prot|         should ask.~I said: I wish Protagoras either to ask or answer
151  Prot|           was asking you at first, Protagoras, and by your help make an
152  Prot|          similar observations; but Protagoras would not distinctly say
153  Prot|           you think, Callias, that Protagoras is fair in refusing to say
154  Prot|          one another.~I think that Protagoras was really made ashamed
155  Prot|            I said: Do not imagine, Protagoras, that I have any other interest
156  Prot|           I said: You would admit, Protagoras, that some men live well
157  Prot|            honourable.~And do you, Protagoras, like the rest of the world,
158  Prot|           Uncover your mind to me, Protagoras, and reveal your opinion
159  Prot|           with you, Socrates, said Protagoras; and not only so, but I,
160  Prot|       probably reply: Socrates and Protagoras, if this affection of the
161  Prot|           answer thus: Listen, and Protagoras and I will endeavour to
162  Prot|          the like?~I believe, said Protagoras, that the world in general
163  Prot|        also, if I am not mistaken?~Protagoras assented.~Then I should
164  Prot|         were not?~I think so, said Protagoras.~‘And do you not pursue
165  Prot|         think that they have, said Protagoras.~‘And have you not a similar
166  Prot|            you cannot.’~True, said Protagoras.~Suppose again, I said,
167  Prot|        will assent, will they not?~Protagoras himself thought that they
168  Prot|          which you asked of me and Protagoras. At the time when you asked
169  Prot|          this, and you rejoined: O Protagoras and Socrates, what is the
170  Prot|          greatest. And our friends Protagoras and Prodicus and Hippias
171  Prot|          you, Prodicus, as well as Protagoras (for the argument is to
172  Prot|            as expectation of evil.~Protagoras and Hippias agreed, but
173  Prot|         premisses; and I would beg Protagoras to explain to us how he
174  Prot|          goers. (You may remember, Protagoras, that this was your answer.)~
175  Prot|            And yet, Socrates, said Protagoras, that to which the coward
176  Prot|        neither assent nor dissent, Protagoras?~Finish the argument by
177  Prot|        laughing at us and saying: ‘Protagoras and Socrates, you are strange
178  Prot|           other than knowledge, as Protagoras attempted to prove, then
179  Prot|           capable of being taught. Protagoras, on the other hand, who
180  Prot|           of being taught.’ Now I, Protagoras, perceiving this terrible
181  Prot|          your help in the enquiry.~Protagoras replied: Socrates, I am