Prótagorovi bohovia. I.

Protagoras is usually connected with the homo-mensura thesis which is interpreted as a defence of relativism, subjectivism or scepticism. A similar approach is brought to our reading of other fragments by Protagoras, for example fragment 80 B 4 DK, which is concerned with the gods. The starting point for Protagoras’ thought, however, may be the thesis that logos has a dual character. From the point of view of this thesis, Protagoras’ statement about the gods may be interpreted as an anti-logical examination of various opinions on the existence of the gods and the manifestation of their deity. This paper deals with the interpretational possibilities of Protagoras’ view of the gods. An alternative reading of fragment 80 B 4 DK in the context of the literature of the time indicates that Protagoras may not have been formulating sceptical objections to the knowledge of the gods, but may instead have been attempting to delineate an anthropological approach to religion which would lead to the need for a new role for mankind.