Protagoras and 'Man is the Measure' (part 1/2)

n this video, I offer a brief introduction to the pre-Socratic philosopher Protagoras, who most famously wrote that "man is the measure of all things." Protagoras lived in the 5th century and none of his works survived. The only accounts of him we have are from adversaries like Plato and biographers like Diogenes Laertius. He is frequently called a Sophist and is argued to be one of the first relativists. Here, I extrapolate what we do (and don't) know about what Protagoras believed.

[justinlevy]

"there is nothing beyond judgement we can use to adjudicate that dispute" spot on, very much in line with how I think about Protagoras

[rachelobrien]

Hey do you have the reference point for protagoras ‘ supposed work titles please I need to use it for my essay we’re not allowed videos

[g.s.]

This was a profoundly thoughtful video. Thank you!

[ColorDeluge]

Amazing video, Sir. One huge help on my personal journey.

[_VISION.]

Thank you for creating this. You are greatly appreciated

[izzy]

Thank you for explaining this so clearly!

[theoe]

i don't agree with Protagoras, but I do have to respect him. great video/summary 👍

[_VISION.]

7:41 I think he meant both and it's man's judgement to decide when to believe himself and when to believe others.

[marthe]

I would like to add something. I get your confusion with "man is the measure", but I'd like to adress that the literal translation is "the person is the measure", so it doesn't indicate any gender. When you look into what he stands for, I think he means that your truth comes from within yourself and another person has a different one, so I wouldn't see it as "the mankind" or "humanrace" cause his visions are quite egocentric. When we look at a dialoge between Plato and Socrates (Theaitetos, 151-161) we can also see that it's really within yourself that you have to find your truth (according to Plato's interpretation of what Protagoras says)

[_VISION.]

11:50 yeah I think protagoras is saying that relative truth doesn't interfere with the instrumental value of science. There seems to be a slight link between Nietzsche and his Perspectivism, Protagoras, Sophistry, Rhetoric, and Skepticism

[andreyrussian]

Is there any space in this sensualism for true reality of imagination?

[musselchee]

'One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind'. Hang on. There's something not quite right. Did he say 'man' or 'a man'? Who cares! Mankind knows the recorded truth. Ya can't lie to me.