The protagorean problem of ‘human-world’ relation: a contemporary view

Abstract

The study aims for formulation and justification of the metaphysics of measure and the anthropology of universal measure, drawing on an interpretation of Protagorean man-measure fragment, proposed by the author. Metaphysics and anthropology formulated in such a manner make it possible to outline the answer to the problem of ‘human-world’ relation. Based on the ultimate generalization of a notion of measure, authored by Aristotle, the article formulates a version of panexperientialism, which can be also represented as relationism. As an intermediate thesis, an epitome of the metaphysics of measure, there appears – ‘everything is a measure’. In addition, the author introduces some distinctions of measure, in particular universality-partiality, that allow for differentiating the human being from the world as a universal measure. The latter property of measure, with some restrictions, can be elucidated as openness to the world according to Scheler and its numerous counterparts. To explicate that in virtue of what the human being is a universal measure, the study uses the phenomenon of the form of forms, for the first time described by Aristotle. The notion of measure is transferred to the rank of the fundamental structure of reality, thereby forming metaphysics of measure. Drawing on the latter, the human being is described as a universal measure. In its turn, the status of this being is grounded in such a phenomenon as the form of forms. The human being and the world, as well as the relation between them, viewed in the light of an interpretation of the famous ‘man-measure’ fragment, proposed by the author, allow for understanding the serious potential of humanity to influence reality, together with simultaneous threat and necessity of realizing of the responsibility for such influence.