Prodicus the Sophist: Text, Translation, and Commentary

by Robert Mayhew

The past fifty years have witnessed the flourishing of scholarship in virtually every area of ancient Greek philosophy, but the sophists have for the most part been neglected. This is certainly true of Prodicus of of the four most well-known sophists--Protagoras, Gorgias, Prodicus, and Antiphon--he has received the least attention. Robert Mayhew provides a reassessment of his life and thought, and especially his views on language, religion, and ethics. This volume consists of ninety texts with facing translations--far more than have appeared in any previous edition--and provides the first commentary on the extant evidence for Prodicus' life and thought. The texts are drawn from the best available editions; the translations are new, and faithful to the original. Mayhew's commentary is designed to serve the needs of a wide range of both scholars of ancient philosophy, and advanced students curious about this intriguing figure who appears in over a dozen Platonic
dialogues.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published February 20, 2012

About the author

Robert Mayhew is a professor of philosophy at Seton Hall University, where he has taught for over twenty years.
Dr. Mayhew’s primary research interests are in ancient philosophy. His most recent publication in the field is Theophrastus of Eresus: On Winds (Brill). Other books are Prodicus the Sophist (Oxford UP); Aristotle: Problems (Harvard UP); and Plato: Laws 10 (Oxford UP). He recently completed a book on Aristotle’s lost Homeric Problems.
Dr. Mayhew also has a serious scholarly interest in Ayn Rand. He is the author of Ayn Rand and “Song of Russia”: Communism and Anti-Communism in 1940s Hollywood, and editor of a collection of essays on each of her four novels. He has also edited some of Ayn Rand’s previously unpublished works: Ayn Rand’s Marginalia, The Art of Nonfiction, Ayn Rand Answers, and most recently, Ayn Rand’s The Unconquered (a play based on We the Living).
Dr. Mayhew serves on the boards of the Ayn Rand Institute and the Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scholarship.

Reviews

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prodicus the Sophist is a remarkable scholarly achievement that sheds light on a philosopher often overshadowed by his contemporaries. What stood out for me was Mayhew’s careful analysis of Prodicus’ perspectives on language, religion, and ethics, making complex ideas accessible while remaining academically rigorous. The facing translations and extensive commentary give readers both clarity and depth. This book has strong potential to become an essential reference for students and scholars of ancient Greek philosophy.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Approximately 40% information, 60% fluff. Hence, 2 stars.