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IRIS è il sistema di gestione integrata dei dati della ricerca (persone, progetti, pubblicazioni, attività) adottato dall'Università degli Studi di Milano.

AIR nasce in UNIMI nel 2006 con lo scopo di raccogliere, documentare e conservare le informazioni sulla produzione scientifica dell'Università degli Studi di Milano e costituisce di fatto l'Anagrafe della ricerca dell'Ateneo.

This paper explores the biography of Protagoras of Abdera as well as tragic irony as a poetic device in Plato's dialogues. I discuss ancient sources (Diogenes Laertius, Timo of Phlius, Plato) as well as modern interpretations related to the life - and especially the death - of Protagoras. Contrary to common consensus, I argue that the sophist's fleeing from Athens to escape conviction, and his accidental death at sea, are historical facts. Far from contradicting later accounts, Plato's references to Protagoras' long-lasting good reputation further support the evidence, e.g. when Protagoras, as a Platonic character, parades his unfailing success. Protagoras' ill-founded and slightly ridiculous over-confidence should be construed as an instance of irony on Plato's part: comparative material makes it clear that Plato is in fact maliciously hinting at the sophist's impending fate. In so doing, Plato proves to master the well-established technique of tragic irony, which he brilliantly adapts to the new genre of Socratic dialogue.

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