Portagoras Rebuttal (Day 24)

Protagoras expresses his views on truth in the piece of literature entitled “Protagoras. ” He describes truth as being relative, as being “what one’s experiencing.” This essay will argue against his views of truth on first a conceptual, then an epistemological, and finally a practical level.

Protagoras argues that 1)truth is relative to the individual (conceptual); 2) that a human being is the measurer of truth (epistemological); and 3) that a wise man is one who sees and beneficially applies the spectrum of reality (practical). 

First, truth is relative. Conceptually there are two proposed forms of truth: absolute truths and relative truths. In his speech Absolute Truth, Spencer W. Kimball, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, makes an excellent argument for this idea. He states that the theories of science on the creation of the universe have changed  much during his lifetime, changed to match with new discovered truths. “There are relative truths, and there are also absolute truths which are the same yesterday, today, and forever—never changing. These absolute truths are not altered by the opinions of men” (Kimball 1978).  If all of the world thought that the world were flat, it would not cease to be round. Two truths exist: relative and absolute. Relative truths are true to the beholder, things as they presently are, seen from one angle- the earth is flat. Absolute truth is the reality of things as they are, as they have been, and as they will be; it involves laws and tangible reality as it is from all angles- the earth is round. 

Second, human beings are the measures of truth. “A human being is the measure of all things- of things that are, that they are” (Protagoras). To propose that all things may be accurately measured by a lone human being, and to put faith in that measure is to propose that humans are able to see all things and so make an expectable measure. This is folly, for the perception of man is most definitely skewed and acute.  This may be illustrated in the example of a pyramid. A stationary observer viewing a pyramid may see but one or two sides at a time. An observer on the other side might also see one or two sides, but neither of them may see all four of the sides at the same time. There is only one way to see all of the pyramid at once: that is to stand at its peak and, look down. Only at the top may absolute truth be seen. No man stands at the top. We may not believe in man’s judgements, nor his experience to give us absolute truth. Man, alone, can only see the relative truth: what he is experiencing now, and so hid judgement is affected by his present state.  

Many try to discover absolute truth by means of science. However,  “a scientific fact or "truth" is only an approximation of what is ... and is constantly subject to change” (Maser 2006). Science is not the place to turn.

“Man cannot discover God or his ways by mere mental processes (Kimball 1978).” Men must receive absolute truth spiritually from God. It is communicated to us spiritually by the grace of God, as we search for it: “study, think, pray, and do. Revelation is the key” (Kimball 1978). It is something that is sought individually and spiritually,

Now the third and final point may be discussed: a wise man is one who sees the good and the bad and beneficially applies them. “Good politicians make beneficial things...   seem to their states to be just” (Protagoras). Protagoras speaks here not of right or wrong, but of beneficial and non-beneficial, this leaves the doorway wide open for men to circumvent Justice, an absolute truth, allowing men to commit self beneficial indecencies. Justice is an absolute truth for it is unchanging regardless of the opinions of 

men. 

Some argue that the correct application of truth in politics is doing what is self beneficial, regardless of how it negatively effects others. Some say that that absolute truth and politics may 

be mixed, but are not because of the corruption of politics (Kierkegaard 1847).  Protagoras’ philosophy leads one to neglect absolute truths, and when absolute truths are neglected in politics it entails disaster.

The Melian/ Athenian conflict provides a fine example. The Athenians struck down hope, slandered honor, and threw justice in the dirt, rejecting the Melian suggestion of friendship, laying siege to their island and terminally slaughtering or enslaving the entire populous of the island, to no particular advantage to the Athenians. So is the result of ignoring absolute truth and recognizing only its relative partner: ego-centric destruction.

In conclusion there are relative truths and absolute truths- both should be recognized. Relative truth is discovered simply by experiencing, where as absolute truth is given spiritually by God. If only relative truth is obeyed then chaos ensues. Absolute truth should be remembered and applied.