Origins & Early Life

Protagoras ( proh-TAG-ər-əs, -⁠ass; Greek: Πρωταγόρας; c. 490 BC – c. 420 BC) was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher and rhetorical theorist. He is numbered as one of the sophists by Plato.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In his dialogue Protagoras, Plato credits him with inventing the role of the professional sophist. Protagoras is also believed to have created a major controversy during ancient times through his statement that "Of all things the measure is Man, of the things that are, that they are, and of the things that are not, that they are not" which was usually rendered simply as "Man is the measure of all things", interpreted by Plato to mean that there is no objective truth; Protagoras seems to have meant that each person's own personal history, experiences and expectations, developed over their lifetime, determine their judgments, opinions, and statements regarding "truth" (which is the title of the book in which Protagoras made this statement). When a person makes a judgment about a certain thing—good or bad or beautiful or unjust—that person will differ from other people's judgments because their experience has been different. This concept of individual relativity was intended to be provocative; naturally...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Pythagoras — Contemporary (Died in -490) (-490): Founding figure of Pythagoreanism, renowned for mathematical and philosophical teachings.
• Zeno of Elea — Contemporary (Born in -490) (-490): Pre-Socratic philosopher known for paradoxes challenging space, time, and motion.
• Miltiades — Contemporary figure (Died in -489) (-489): Prominent Athenian general and statesman, best known for his role at the Battle of Marathon.
• Empedocles — Contemporary figure (Born in -494) (-494): Pre-Socratic philosopher known for the four elements, Love, and Strife.
• Pericles — Contemporary figure (Born in -494) (-494): Leading statesman of Athens during its Golden Age, champion of democracy and culture.
• Darius the Great — Contemporary figure (Died in -486) (-486): Third King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, ruling at its territorial peak.
• Lucius Tarquinius Superbus — Contemporary figure (Died in -495) (-495): The legendary seventh and final king of Rome, known for his tyrannical reign.
• -490 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -490
• -420 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -420