Abstract
The opening of Protagoras leads to a dramatic misunderstanding concerning the companion’s suspicion that Socrates has been in pursuit of the young Alcibiades. The remark that today Socrates paid him no attention and forgot about him, together with
the announcement that the supposed reason for such a strange incident was the alleged
wisdom of Protagoras, mitigates and confuses Socrates’ previous acknowledgement
that indeed he has come from being with Alcibiades just now. The narration following the meeting with the sophist reinforces that Alcibiades, while having been present
and come to the aid of Socrates, was neither the aim of Socrates’ erotic pursuit, nor
left the meeting to enjoy his company in private. However, previous studies claim that
this impression could be false and prompted ironically by Socrates in the dialogue in
order to redirect the attention of this companion, who would judge the relationship
with Alcibiades inappropriate. This paper discusses previous studies and provides new
textual evidence that could confirm that the drama indicates that Socrates, in spite of
his dissimulation, actually appears to be in pursuit of Alcibiades. It also explains how
Socrates’ feigned forgetting, which makes it possible to avoid the matter, may be read
as a necessary precaution of the philosophy in its public appearance, to protect the
course of a certain educational relationship with the youngster which has just begun.