Plato's Protagoras Myth Overview

The Protagoras Myth

• The myth in Plato's Protagoras is a foundational narrative explaining the origin of human virtue and the role of the gods in its development.
• It's presented by Protagoras, a renowned Sophist, to illustrate his ethical and pedagogical approach.
• The myth posits a shared divine origin for humanity, differentiating humans from animals through the inherent capacity for learning and reason.
• A significant element is the bestowal of a special divine gift, the capacity for art and wisdom (techne), by the gods Prometheus and Epimetheus.
• Human beings initially lack the necessary tools and skills for survival and flourishing.
• This emphasizes the requirement for human cooperation and the necessity of learning from others, thus highlighting the role of education in cultivating virtue.
• The myth presents a strong argument for the societal context of human development, implying that virtue is not an innate quality but rather a product of social and cultural interaction.
• Protagoras argues humans are inherently suited for cooperation and that it is through communal interactions that individual virtues like justice and temperance manifest and develop.
• The myth stresses the importance of nomos (law and custom), as opposed to physis (nature), in shaping human character and ethical conduct. This contrasts with a purely biologically determined approach to ethics.
• The myth depicts the god's role as initiators of the human condition, not as arbiters of morality or agents of retribution.
• The myth culminates with the argument that all humans inherently possess the potentiality for virtue and that their potential is primarily developed through social interactions and societal structures.
• The myth has been interpreted by scholars as a complex allegory highlighting the social construction of values and the importance of human agency.

Key Elements of the Myth

• The gods, represented by figures like Prometheus and Epimetheus, play a central role in the origin of humanity, yet they are not seen as direct moral guides.
• The myth introduces a sharp division between humans and animals, emphasizing human unique capacity for reason and learning.
• Human's lack of natural defenses or instincts is a key theme highlighting their dependence on social structures.
• The theme of art and wisdom (techne) is central to the myth as a fundamental tool for human survival and prosperity.
• The myth provides a powerful framework for understanding ethical and pedagogical principles and underpins Protagoras's belief that humans can learn virtue through education and practice.

Implications for Protagoras's Philosophy

• The myth serves as a springboard for Protagoras' ethical views, suggesting that virtue is teachable and attainable through human effort.
• It underscores the importance of societal education and norms (nomos) in shaping humane conduct.
• The narrative supports Protagoras' relativistic perspective on morality, suggesting that morality is not inherent but culturally constructed.
• It also showcases Protagoras's pragmatism. The emphasis on human interdependence is directly related to the importance of societal structures in shaping ethical behavior and individual well-being.
• The myth is a significant argument in establishing the critical role of education in promoting and cultivating virtue.
• It aligns with the ideas of early Greek democratic ideals with its focus on human potential and shared ability to learn and improve collectively.