When1: -460
When2: -430
Who: Protagoras of Abdera
What: philosopher
Where: Greece
works\ Truth or Refutations [-460 to -430]; On the Gods [-460 to -430]
Detail: He lived -490 to -420, founded Sophist School, wrote book about argumentation, and was skeptic. Older Sophists were Protagoras, Gorgias, Hippias, and Prodicus.
Epistemology
Perceptions differ from actual objects. People can know perception contents but cannot know objects. Perceptions depend on moving elements. Perception differences depend on moving-element speed and direction differences. People perceive objects in individual ways. Perceptions are true but only for that person at that time. It is impossible to prove errors and contradictions. Therefore, man is the measure of all things.
Perceptions include feelings and desires, so ideas of good and worth are also individual.
The only true knowledge is perception. People cannot know about gods.
Ethics
People have a sense of justice and a sense of respect for ethical behavior, which is like sense of reverence. These feelings cause people to form societies for self-preservation. Society helps people live in harsh world, and virtues help society. Ethics must be about action consequences and possible alternative actions.
Politics
Nature requires that things should develop, control, and express all possibilities and desires. People should follow only impulses and desires, to reach goals and express personality. However, strongest-group or strongest-party interests determine moral and political law. Ruling class invented gods. In democracy, laws protect the weak. In other government forms, laws protect ruling class. Moral and political laws are against law of nature for most people in society. Therefore, one should only obey law if it is advantageous.
Social Sciences>Philosophy>History>Epistemology
6-Philosophy-History-Epistemology
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Date Modified: 2022.0224