Abstract

In this paper a reinterpretation of Protagoras thesis, ‘homo mensura’ is attempted. Plato’s interpretation of Protagorean statement, ‘homo mensura’ in his Theaetetus, as ‘knowledge is perception’ is not reliable, since he was hostile towards sophists. ‘Homo mensura’ expresses a philosophical relativism, wherein Protagoras maintains that each one of us is determiner of truth. Each one of us is the unique authority on the content of our own perception. As a result, our judgments are incorrigible. However, not all judgments are equally true. Protagoras provided for consensus, wherein changes are caused by wise man and he appeals to reason through common sense ways to grasp truth. It seems that Protagoras goes beyond the meaning of sense; perception in man-measure thesis. In this reinterpretation ‘measure’ stands for an insight in determining the general self-world view and the way of life implicit in such a view. It refers to the deeper valuing, and not to any external standard. It has to fit in the overall reality in which man lives, and as demonstrated by his perception and harmony of action to which it leads. This anti-dogmatic philosophical relativism places man in central position. Protagoras’s engineering approach and inseparability of thought and emotion plays an important role in man’s being ‘measure’ of all things.