Protagoras and Logos. A Study in Greek Philosophy and Rhetoric

270 Pages·2013·4.16 MB·English

by  Edward Schiappa

Protagoras and Logos
Studies in Rhetoric/Communication
Thomas W. Benson, Series Editor
PROTAGORAS AND LOGOS
A Study in Greek Philosophy and Rhetoric
Second Edition
Edward Schiappa
University of South Carolina Press
© 2003 Edward Schiappa
Paperback original edition published by the University of South Carolina Press, 2003
Ebook edition published in Columbia, South Carolina,
by the University of South Carolina Press, 2013
www.sc.edu/uscpress
22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The Library of Congress has cataloged the paperback edition as follows:
Schiappa, Edward, 1954–
Protagoras and logos : a study in Greek philosophy and rhetoric /
Edward Schiappa.— 2nd ed.
p. cm. — (Studies in rhetoric/communication)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-57003-521-0 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Protagoras—Contributions in rhetoric. 2. Rhetoric, Ancient.
3. Rhetoric—Philosophy. I. Title. II. Series.
B305.P84 S35 2003
183'.1—dc22
2003016687
ISBN 978-1-61117-181-5 (ebook)
For Jacqueline Jean

CONTENTS
Preface to the Second Edition X
Preface to the First Edition XII
Acknowledgments XIII
Translations and Abbreviations XV
Part I PROLEGOMENON TO THE STUDY OF
EARLY GREEK RHETORICAL THEORY 1
CHAPTER 1 Why a Study of Protagoras? 3
Defining "Sophist" 3
Protagoras' Significance 12
CHAPTER 2 Interpreting Ancient Fragments 20
Problems Facing the Modern Interpreter 21
Literacy and Greek Philosophy 24
Four Hermeneutic Principles 32
CHAPTER 3 The "Invention" of Rhetoric 39
Did Plato Coin Rhetorike? 40
The "Invention" Myths Reconsidered 49
Sophistic Teaching Reconsidered 54
CHAPTER 4 Toward an Understanding of
Sophistic Theories of Rhetoric 64
Historical Reconstruction and Contemporary
Appropriation 64
Poulakos' Sophistic Definition of Rhetoric 69
Toward Individualistic Studies of the Sophists 77
Contents
Part II ANALYSIS OF THE MAJOR FRAGMENTS
OF PROTAGORAS 87
CHAPTERS The Two-Logoi Fragment 89
The Subjective and Heraclitean Interpretations 90
The Advancement of Heraclitean Thought 95
Translation and Interpretation 98
CHAPTER 6 The "Stronger and Weaker" Logoi Fragment 103
The Pejorative Interpretation 104
The Positive Interpretation 107
The Evidence of Aristophanes' Clouds 110
Protagoras' Influence on Plato and Aristotle 113
CHAPTER 7 The "Human-Measure" Fragment 117
Reconsidering the Standard Translation 118
The Fragment as a Response to Parmenides 121
A Defense of Relativity 126
CHAPTER 8 The "Impossible to Contradict" Fragment 134
Competing Interpretations of Ouk Estin Antilegein 134
Positive Contributions of Ouk Estin Antilegein 138
CHAPTER 9 The "Concerning the Gods" Fragment 141
Agnosticism or Anthropology? 143
Two More Protagorean Fragments 149
Part III PROTAGORAS AND EARLY GREEK
PHILOSOPHY AND RHETORIC 155
CHAPTER 10 Protagoras and Fifth-Century Education 157
The Mythic-Poetic Tradition 157
Providing a Logos of Logos 162
Protagoras and Civic Arete 168
CHAPTER 11 Protagoras, Logos, and the Polis 175
Protagoras and Periclean Democracy 176
Protagoras' Vision of the Polis 180
CHAPTER 12 Protagoras "versus" Plato and Aristotle 190
The Refutation of Protagoras 190
Rejection or Assimilation? 193
Vlll
Contents
CHAPTER 13 Protagoras' Legacy to Rhetorical Theory 197
Summary of Contributions 198
Conclusion 200
Afterword 205
Rhetorical Salience and Role of Theory 206
Plato, Rhetorike, and the Sophists 212
Appendix A: Chronology of Protagoras' Life 217
Appendix B: Data from the TLG Search for prp;optK 219
Appendix C: Three Spurious Attributions 226
Bibliography 230
Index 247
IX