PROTAGORAS, a famous Greek philosopher, born at Abdera, was the disciple of Democritus, and the legislator of the Thurians. He was more subtle than solid in his reasonings; however, he taught at Athens with great reputation, but was at length banished from thence for the impiety of his doctrines. He then travelled, and visited the islands in the Mediterranean, where it is said that he was the first philosopher who taught for money. He died in a voyage to Sicily, in a very advanced age. He commonly reasoned by dilemmas, and left the mind in suspense with respect to all the questions he proposed. Plato wrote a dialogue against him. He flourished 400 B.C.