Prodicus

The Choice of Hercules, by Annibale Carracci, depicting the fable recounted by Prodicus

Prodicus of Ceos (/ˈprdɪkəs/; ‹See Tfd›Greek: Πρόδικος ὁ Κεῖος, Pródikos ho Keios; c. 465 BC – c. 395 BC) was a Greek philosopher, and part of the first generation of Sophists. He came to Athens as ambassador from Ceos, and became known as a speaker and a teacher. Plato treats him with greater respect than the other sophists, and in several of the Platonic dialogues Socrates appears as the friend of Prodicus. One writer claims Socrates used his method of instruction.[1] Prodicus made linguistics and ethics prominent in his curriculum. The content of one of his speeches is still known, and concerns a fable in which Heracles has to make a choice between Virtue and Vice. He also interpreted religion through the framework of naturalism.

  1. ^ Herbert Ernest Cushman (1918). A Beginner's History of Philosophy. Vol. 1. p. 68.