How Can Wisdom Be Taught In Protagoras

In Protagoras, Socrates argues against the notion of wisdom being able to be taught. He states that if wisdom could be taught, few experts would decide politics in Athens rather than the implemented system of all civilians being involved in the decision-making process. Socrates also argues that if wisdom was a trait that could be taught then the wisest men would impart their wisdom onto their sons and everyone would be collectively wise. Protagoras replies to Socrates’ arguments through a story about the Gods creating animals and humans, and how Zeus provided the latter with political wisdom in order to properly function in a society, Protagoras also provides a refutation of Socrates’ argument by showing how punishment clearly reflects how …show more content…
Any member of the city is allowed to voice their opinion and help make any political decisions. If wisdom could be taught then the members of Athens would not be included in political matters, as they would just appoint one leader to make all the decisions (Protagoras 319d). If a farmer with no experience of architecture tries to give advice to architects he will be rejected because architecture is a skill that can be learned and taught unlike wisdom (Protagoras 319c). Socrates’ second reason for challenging the notion that wisdom can be taught is that he believes that if wisdom could in fact be taught, then the men with the most wisdom would be able to provide everyone else, more specifically their sons, with their wisdom and virtues. If the wisest men could provide others with their wisdom then, in fact everyone would be wise but that is quite clearly not the case (Protagoras …show more content…
Protagoras states that when the Gods created both animals and humans, Epimetheus was given the power to bestow qualities upon them that were necessary in staying alive Protagoras 320e). Epimetheus gave all of the qualities to the animals and left humans with nothing to survive as they were “…unarmed” (Protagoras 321c). Upon seeing Epimetheus’ mistake, Prometheus gave humans practical wisdom which is the very least we need in order to stay alive. With having just practical wisdom, humans would be able to survive but we would lack a moral compass for our actions and would not be able to function properly in an organized society. Zeus, knowing that humans needed a moral compass in order to properly coincide with others in a society, distributes political wisdom to humans but does so in a manner that everyone has an equal share. If Zeus had only given political wisdom to some humans, then only those who received political wisdom would be able to function with each other and the rest of the community would not have the proper tools to interact with others. Protagoras then responds to Socrates’ first point by stating that political matters in Athens can be discussed by all of its members because Zeus provided all humans with political wisdom, and Athenians therefore all have logical opinions on the politics in the city