The presocratic philosopher Protagoras of Abdera (490-420 BC), founder of the sophistic movement, was famously agnostic towards the existence and nature of the gods, and was the proponent of the doctrine that 'man is the measure of all things'. Still relevant to contemporary society, Protagoras is in many ways a precursor of the postmodern movement. In the brief fragments that survive, he lays the foundation for relativism, agnosticism, the significance of rhetoric, a pedagogy for critical thinking and a conception of the human being as a social construction. This accessible introductory survey by Daniel Silvermintz covers Protagoras' life, ideas and lasting legacy. Each chapter interprets one of the surviving fragments and draws connections with related ideas forwarded by other sophists, showing its relevance to an area of knowledge: epistemology, ethics, education and sociology.

A concise introductory guide to Protagoras and his relevance for the contemporary reader.

About the Author
Daniel Silvermintz is Associate Professor of Humanities at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, USA.

Reviews
The most interesting idea proposed by S[ilvermintz] is that Pericles' political volte-face, as he has it, in 462 BC can be laid at Protagoras' door ... an attractive thesis, supported by a fair and reasoned description of the development of democracy in Athens ... I enjoyed this book. * Classics For All Reviews *
In this short, elegant, and readable work, Daniel Silvermintz brings alive one of the most elusive and enigmatic thinkers of the ancient world. -- Steven B. Smith, Alfred Cowles Professor of Political Science, Yale University, USA
[CC] Piecing together the thoughts of early Greek philosophers can be a challenge. Little of their writing has survived, so scholars must often rely on the testimony of much later philosophers, whose reliability can be suspect. Aware of these challenges, Silvermintz (Univ. of Houston, Clear Lake) provides readers with a useful-albeit very brief-introduction to the life and ideas of Protagoras the Sophist. The book includes three chapters. The first provides an intellectual biography, the second examines Protagoras's political thought and his influence on Athenian political reforms, and the third focuses on Protagoras's esotericism ... Silvermintz's book could serve as a useful supplement to introductory courses in ancient philosophy. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE *
This short book ... can be recommended for at least three reasons: it is the only available introduction to Protagoras; its style is detailed, but nonetheless enjoyable, which makes it perfect reading for undergraduate students; and, in its final chapter, it offers a fascinating, albeit admittedly 'speculative' thesis, which will surely peak the interest of specialists as well. * Journal of Hellenic Studies *



Book Information
ISBN 9781472510921
Author Daniel Silvermintz
Format Paperback
Page Count 112
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 167g