more from Protagoras

Single Idea 612

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 6. Relativism Critique]

Full Idea

In fact there is no difference between Protagoreanism and saying this: if you stick your finger under your eyes and make single things seem two, then they are two, just because they seem to be two.

Clarification

'Protagoreanism' is the relativist view that there is no truth, but only individual points of view

Gist of Idea

Relativists think if you poke your eye and see double, there must be two things

Source

comment on Protagoras (fragments/reports [c.441 BCE]) by Aristotle - Metaphysics 1063a06

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Metaphysics', ed/tr. Lawson-Tancred,Hugh [Penguin 1998], p.331