Greek philosopher and is numbered as one of the sophists by Plato
. In his dialogue Protagoras
, Plato credits him with having invented the role of the professional sophist or teacher of virtue. He is also believed to have created a major controversy during ancient times through his statement that man is the measure of all things. This idea was very revolutionary for the time and contrasting to other philosophical doctrines that claimed the universe was based on something objective, outside the human influence.
Protagoras was born in Abdera, Thrace
, in Ancient Greece.
Man is the measure of all things: of things which are, that they are, and of things which are not, that they are not.
There are two sides to every question.
The Athenians are right to accept advice from anyone, since it is incumbent on everyone to share in that sort of excellence, or else there can be no city at all.
When it comes to consideration of how to do well in running the city, which must proceed entirely through justice and soundness of mind.
You, Socrates, began by saying that virtue can't be taught, and now you are insisting on the opposite, trying to show that all things are knowledge, justice, soundness of mind, even courage, from which it would follow that virtue most certainly can be taught.