Part 1

Socrates and Hippocrates Venture to Meet Protagoras

We bring with us a foreigner from Elea, who is a disciple of Parmenides and Zeno, and a true philosopher

Socrates Socrates
15 min read
Table of Contents
Meno Meno
Socrates, narrator Socrates avatar
Hippocrates Hippocrates avatar
Companion Companion avatar
Alcibiades Alcibiades avatar
Critias Critias avatar
Protagoras (Sophist) Protagoras avatar
Hippias (Sophist) Hippias avatar
Prodicus (Sophist) Prodicus avatar
Callias, a wealthy Athenian Callias avatar

SCENE: The House of Callias.

Companion
Where did you come from, Socrates?
Companion
Socrates
Socrates
I visited Alcibiades. He was very gracious even if I paid no attention to him. Several times, I even forgot that he was present.
Companion
Has anything happened between you and him? He is the most just man in Athens.
Companion
Socrates
Socrates

I know of a juster and wiser foreigner from Abdera – Protagoras. He has been here in Athens for 2 days now.

I have heard him say many things

Last night, or rather very early this morning, Hippocrates, the son of Apollodorus and the brother of Phason, gave a tremendous thump with his staff at my door.

Some one opened to him, and he came rushing in and bawled out:

Hippocrates
Socrates, are you awake or asleep? Protagoras is come.
Hippocrates
Socrates
Socrates
Yes, I replied; he came two days ago: have you only just heard of his arrival?
Hippocrates
Yes, but not until yesterday evening. Yesterday I went to Oenoe to pursue my runaway slave Satyrus. In the evening my brother told me that Protagoras is come.
Hippocrates
Socrates
Socrates
What is the matter? Has Protagoras robbed you of anything?
Hippocrates
Yes, he has robbed me of the wisdom which he keeps from me.
Hippocrates
Socrates
Socrates
But if you give him money, and make friends with him, he will make you as wise as he is himself.
Hippocrates

But he might take all that I have, and all that my friends have.

But that is why I have come to you so you may speak to him on my behalf; for I am young, and also I have never seen nor heard him; (when he visited Athens before I was but a child;) and all men praise him, Socrates; he is reputed to be the most accomplished of speakers. There is no reason why we should not go to him at once, and then we shall find him at home. He lodges, as I hear, with Callias the son of Hipponicus.

Hippocrates
Socrates
Socrates
Not yet, it is too early. But let us rise and take a turn in the court and wait about there until day-break; when the day breaks, then we will go. For Protagoras is generally at home, and we shall be sure to find him; never fear.

We got up and walked about in the court. I thought of testing the strength of his resolution.

Socrates
Socrates
Hippocrates, you are going to Protagoras and will be paying your money to him. Who is he and what does he think of you?
Hippocrates
I gave money to him as a physician.
Hippocrates
Socrates
Socrates
If you went to Polycleitus the Argive, or Pheidias the Athenian, and were intending to give them money, and someone had asked you: What are Polycleitus and Pheidias? Why do you give them this money?
Hippocrates
They were statuaries.
Hippocrates
Socrates
Socrates

We are going to Protagoras, and we are ready to pay him money on your behalf.

If someone asks us what is Protagoras’’ job, and why are you going to pay him money?

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