The Mind of Gorgias and Protagoras

Gorgias and Protagoras inherit a rich philosophical background; from Pythagoras, Xenophanes, Parmenides, Zeno, and Empedocles in Italy to Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, and Heraclitus in Greece. Often disparaged with the attribution of a negative connotation of sophistry, they can instead be seen as integrating, representing, and driving reflection on the doctrines of their illustrious predecessors. In particular, Gorgias and Protagoras address the distinction between the mental and the natural world. However useful, knowledge and opinions are constructs of the human mind. Relations between mind and reality require a broader perspective. Gorgias and Protagoras do not provide a solution. However, their contributions in the framing of the problem are very valuable.