Protagoras

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCEProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.5

Word count: 153K words
Chapters: 16

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Protagoras by PlatoAuthor: Plato, 427? BCE-347? BCE,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Jan 1, 1999

Editor's review

Protagoras is one of Plato's early dialogues, combining dramatic interest with intellectual density; it stages a direct confrontation between Socrates and the sophist Protagoras over whether virtue can be taught. Its value lies in the immediacy of Platonic dialectic: the two sides do not merely talk past each other but constantly revise definitions and expose contradictions through questioning, so readers can clearly see how concepts such as virtue, knowledge, and pleasure are driven step by step into difficulty. Protagoras's long myth and speech also provide a direct sample for understanding sophist views on education and rhetoric. As a public-domain electronic text, this edition suits advanced close reading after an introduction to ancient Greek philosophy, especially for classroom discussion or reading groups; pausing at turning points to sort out the argument is more rewarding than reading straight through.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Philosophy readers who have read Plato's early short dialogues and want a deeper grasp of Socratic dialectic
Students of classics and intellectual history interested in the debate between sophists and Athenian views of education
Philosophy teachers and reading-group hosts needing a text for classroom discussion
General readers interested in the educational-philosophical question of whether virtue can be taught

Not a good fit for

Beginners with no exposure to Plato's dialogues who need introductions and notes
Readers who want systematic ethical conclusions rather than the dialogic process
Readers who prefer modern vernacular translations and are uncomfortable with English public-domain texts

Reading tips

Read through once for the overall movement, then on a second pass mark each turning point in Socrates' questioning and each revised definition.
Read Protagoras's long myth and speech closely, then compare it with Socrates' subsequent interrogation and the two argumentative methods.
After reading, summarize on one page the core grounds on each side of 'virtue is teachable' to test whether you have followed the argument.
For a reading group, select the passages on competing definitions of virtue, read them by role, then discuss the contradictions together.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can I read this dialogue without a philosophy background?

Yes, but first read a shorter, more clearly structured early Platonic dialogue as a warm-up. This one is long and dense with argumentative turns; without background it is easy to lose direction in the middle. If you only want the gist, read Protagoras's myth first, then return to Socrates' questioning.

What is the core question of this dialogue?

The core question is whether virtue (excellence) can be taught, and whether it is knowledge or something else. The dialogue pursues this question and draws in disputes over the definitions of pleasure, the good, courage, and other concepts. Do not rush to memorize conclusions; what matters more is how each side offers definitions and how they are refuted.

What should I watch for when reading a public-domain electronic text?

Public-domain electronic texts usually lack detailed notes and glossaries; names of people and gods or Athenian institutional background may need separate checking. Note unclear points as you read and look them up afterward, so you do not lose the overall rhythm of the dialogue by stopping constantly over details.

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About the author

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCE Author

Plato (c. 427–347 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher. Reliable details of his life are limited in public sources, and his thought and writings are generally known through later accounts. The library holds 65 of his works, including the multi-volume Republic (Πολιτεία), the Symposium, and the Phaedo. These works are mostly dialogues with Socrates as the central figure, unfolding through question and answer around justice, the governance of the city, love, the soul, and knowledge, combining philosophical inquiry with dramatic literary form. The Republic, which discusses the ideal city and justice, is especially influential. Plato's style is marked by analogy, argument, and open-ended conclusions, and he has had a lasting influence on later Western philosophy and political thought.