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How did Protagoras explain the development of civilization from savagery?
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Sophist
Plato (center left) and Aristotle, detail from School of Athens, fresco by Raphael, 1508–11; in the Stanza della Segnatura, the Vatican. Plato is shown pointing to the heavens and the realm of forms, Aristotle to the earth and the realm of things.
In contrast to views that saw human history as a decline from a golden age or a series of recurring cycles, Protagoras proposed a model of progress from savagery to civilization.1
According to a famous myth attributed to him, Protagoras explained that humans achieved a civilized state through a two-stage process:
- Arts and Crafts: Humans first utilized technical skills and crafts to secure their basic survival.1
- Social Order: Civilization was fully realized when humans gained a sense of respect and justice, which allowed them to organize their affairs and live together in society.1
This perspective reflects the broader Sophistic interest in the history and organization of human societies, emphasizing that the qualities necessary for successful living—often termed aretē—could be taught and cultivated through deliberate, controllable procedures rather than being determined solely by birth or chance.1