ABSTRACT
The Protagoras resembles the Symposium in beginning with a short dramatic encounter between two characters (Protagoras: Socrates and an unnamed companion; Symposium: Apollodorus and a similarly unnamed companion) framing the main dialogue, which is reported by one of them. In the Protagoras the frame conversation has a clear and simple point: to initiate the warnings about the reality of Protagoras' alleged wisdom and about its attractiveness which continue through the conversation with Hippocrates that follows. The Protagoras explores the difference between the true Socratic wisdom and the mere reputation for wisdom which Protagoras has acquired and in his final words in the dialogue predicts Socrates will acquire. Protagoras has had enough of the cross-questioning, and launches into a speech about the relativity of the beneficial, designed to show that the good is a diverse and complicated thing.
