page_title: Protagoras
hierarchical_section_title: Protagoras
context_page_description: Protagoras was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. He is numbered as one of the sophists by Plato. In his dialogue Protagoras, Plato credits him with inventing the role of the professional sophist.
  Protagoras also is believed to have created a major controversy during ancient times through his statement that, "Man is the measure of all things", interpreted by Plato to mean that there is no objective truth. Whatever individuals deem to be the truth is true.
  Although there is reason to question the extent of the interpretation of his arguments that has followed, that concept of individual relativity was atypical for the time, and contrasted with other philosophical doctrines that claimed the universe was based on something objective, outside human influence or perceptions.
context_section_description: Protagoras (/proʊˈtæɡərəs/; Greek: Πρωταγόρας; c. 490 BC – c. 420 BC) was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. He is numbered as one of the sophists by Plato. In his dialogue Protagoras, Plato credits him with inventing the role of the professional sophist.
  Protagoras also is believed to have created a major controversy during ancient times through his statement that, "Man is the measure of all things", interpreted by Plato to mean that there is no objective truth. Whatever individuals deem to be the truth is true. 
  Although there is reason to question the extent of the interpretation of his arguments that has followed, that concept of individual relativity was atypical for the time, and contrasted with other philosophical doctrines that claimed the universe was based on something objective, outside human influence or perceptions.
caption: Democritus (center) and Protagoras (right)
  17th-century painting by Salvator Rosa
  in Hermitage Museum
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