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How many ἀρεταί in Plato's Protagoras?

Sebastiano Molinelli

Autor
Sebastiano Molinelli
Revista
Journal of Ancient Philosophy
Edição
12 / 2
Ano
2018
DOI
10.11606/issn.1981-9471.v12i2p192-204
Páginas
192-204
Idioma
en
2018Sebastiano Molinelli. How many ἀρεταί in Plato's Protagoras?. Journal of Ancient Philosophy, v. 12, n. 2, p. 192-204, 2018.2

A large debate around Plato’s Protagoras concerns the so-called ‘unity of virtue’, namely Socrates’ ultimate position on the relation between ἀρετή and the five concepts (justice, piety, prudence, wisdom, and courage) connected with it. In this article, I will draw on the language and ideas of the dialogue to question the semantic presupposition which all the scholars involved in the debate, whatever their views, have been sharing, namely that the five concepts can be considered as ἀρεταί, and not just as ‘good qualities’ (τὰ καλά), or ‘parts’ (μόρια), or ‘names’ (ὀνόματα) of ἀρετή, as Plato terms them.