Author(s)

RuoNan Liu

Affiliation(s)

Keystone Academy, Beijing 101138, China.

Corresponding Author

RuoNan Liu

ABSTRACT

In Protagoras, a dialogue by Plato, the role of a Hippocrates as a doctor is introduced abruptly to a gathering of sophists, where Protagoras, a renowned sophist teaches virtue to help people navigate legal troubles. However, the doctor's role is significantly overshadowed by the rhetoric of Socrates, his companion, who challenges Protagoras to instruct the doctor in the virtues of a better existence, thereby questioning Protagoras' authority. Socrates' search for flaws in sophistic arguments embodies a critique of sophistry and its understanding of virtue and wisdom. The satirical implications of Hippocrates reveal the ignorance inherent in relativism and the fallacious wisdom propagated by sophists, as well as a probable deeper perspective with regard to the Athenian education. This paper will analyze the significance of the doctor as a central figure in Plato's writing, concluding that the doctor serves as a means for Socrates to challenge Protagoras, but also embodies Plato's critique to sophistry and its role in Athenian education, enhancing the satirical depth of this written work.

KEYWORDS

Sophistry; Epistemology; Virtue; Wisdom; Relativism; Education

CITE THIS PAPER

RuoNan Liu. Protagoras: the significance of Hippocrates in Plato’s dialogue. Educational Research and Human Development. 2025, 2(3): 8-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/erhd3046.

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