Diogenes Laertius' Lives of the Philosophers is filled with fascinating stories and sayings from the lives of the great men whose lives and ideas he describes. Read his account of any of the philosophers you would like to know more about. Comment here on what you thought the most interesting thing Diogenes Laertius had to say about that man.For additional extra credit, read another of the selections in Diogenes Laertius and add a comment on what you found interesting in this new section.
You might find especially interesting the lives of Thales, Anaxagoras, and Diogenes. You might find even more interesting the lives of some of those philosophers who weren't discussed in class--and who often don't make it into the history books at all. If you read, for instance, the life of Bion, you'll perhaps be covering material that even Dr. Blanchard hasn't read.
(N.B., Do not confuse Diogenes Laertius with the Diogenes I discuss in class. A different man!)
The first philosopher that I read about was Strato, who was known as the Natural Philosopher. There was nothing very interesting with the events in his life, but the thing that was most interesting about him was in what he accomplished with his work. Strato wrote over 40 books, all on a multitude of different topics. A couple of these books were titled Human Nature and Dreams. This was just amazing that Strato was able to put so much time into creating so many knowledgeable books.
ReplyDeleteAnother philosopher that I read about was Bias. Bias was from Priene and it was thought that he was one of the richest men in the city. The most interesting thing I read about Bias was his plan when Alyattes was besieging Priene. This act showed how wise Bias was when it came to understanding the nature of men. Another interesting point on Bias was that he was so popular that the Prienians consecrated a temple towards him. This shows what kind of popularity Bias' wisdom gave him.
I read theophrastus and I really liked that his favorite expression was that time was the most valuable thing a man could spend. I'm always hearing this from people and it is very true. And that when he died the whole city follow his body to the burial site. He also wrote a ton of books and works basically seemed like a great guy who devoted himself to philosphy, definitely someone you can admire.
ReplyDeleteAnnie Merkel
ReplyDeleteI read about Thales first. In my opinion, Thales is very understated in his description. All of Thales's accomplishments - measuring the Pyramids by their shadow, deciding there were 365 days in a year, declaring that everything was alive - are portrayed as being nothing of great importance. I think Thales is one of the greatest philosophers to live; he contributed so much to our society.
The next philosopher I read about was Crito. I chose Crito because I thought I had heard of him before - his name sounded familiar to me. After reading his profile, he is made out to have accomplished nothing but a few dialogues. In my opinion, if Crito is acknowledged as being an important philospher of the time, he deserves to have more put in his profile than only his writings. I think Crito, just like Thales, is being very understated on their accoplishments.
Kirsten Saunders
ReplyDeleteI read Thales which was interesting because of the sheer mass of Thales' accomplishments and theories. For example, Thales is credited with discovering that the souls of men were immortal. Who can discover and say this with authorty that men's souls are immortal, nevertheless, Thales is credited with this.What didn't Thales do? He was a man of incredible wisdom and knowledge. Regardless, of accuracy, Thales is credited with discovering ideas from astronomy, politics, philosophy etc. There was limited personal information, but all his accomplishments is resoectable.
I also read Anaxagoras which was even more interesting, because of his thoughts on politics. Unlike Thales, Anaxagoras did not openely participate in politics and focused on natural philosophy. Other stories about Anaxagoras were interesting to read because of his cynicism to certain elements. I found Anaxagoras more interesting than Thales, but his achievements seem less believable and more heavenly.
Brian Johnson
ReplyDeleteThe person I read about was Speusippus. There were two stories that I found particularly interesting.
The first was "Speusippus said to a rich man who was in love with an ugly woman, What do you want with her? I will find you a much prettier woman for ten talents." Telling a man that a woman is too ugly for him is not something you usually hear from notable men.
The other story was "he was a passionate man, and a slave to pleasure. Accordingly, they say that he once in a rage threw a puppy into a well." I would say that throwing puppies into a well is a little more than passionate; sounds more like crazy to me. And once again, this is not something you usually hear about great people.
Sam Merkel
ReplyDeleteI decided to go with reading about Aristotle. The part that stood out for me the most was when he talked about his prophecy. Like when it says "And his prophecy was fulfilled, for as he was believed by Hermolaus to have been privy to the plot against Alexander, he was shut up in an iron cage, covered with lice, and untended; and at last he was given to a lion, and so died," It really paints a picture in my mind.
"Favorinus in his Universal History, says that Aristotle was the first person who ever composed a speech to be delivered in his own defence..." I thought this was really interesting because today defendants have the option to defend themselves in court. However, the fact that this was the first time in recorded history is really interesting. As people study law this is an interesting piece of history.
ReplyDeleteThe second philosopher that I looked at was Dionysius, and I thought he would be interesting because of the Theatrical performances dedicated to the god of the same name. Also, I remember the Roman cult of Dionysius, and it seems that their ideas of ritual pleasure and secrecy could be based on Dionysius. His idea that pleasure is the chief good goes right along with the roman cult.
Zach Anderson
Laura McCowan
ReplyDeleteI read the life of Crates. I liked how random he seemed to be. The first line that stuck out to me was "He was also nicknamed Door-opener, because he used to enter every house and give the inmates advice."
How many people could just randomly enter houses and start talking to people.
The second one I read was about Eudoxus. It was interesting to find that he dressed himself as a Egyptian priest.
I read about diogenes because i remembered you talking about him in another class. I thought that diogenes was crazy but he also knew what he was doing. My favorite line from him was when he was being sold as a slave they asked him what he could do and he told them he could govern men. so then the slave traders tried to sell him as a master instead of a slave.
ReplyDeleteI also read about pythagurus who was a great mathamatician. They said that he was the most learned man in history. He got his great knowledge from his memory which was given to him the the god mercury.
Jon Evenson
Ruth Wilson
ReplyDeleteClitomachus was not that interesting. His life took up three paragraphs of the most basic of biographies. That being said, Diogenes states that Clitomachus wrote more than four hundred books. All this guy gets is three paragraphs?! Whatever. I wonder why Clitomachus is even included. yeah, he wrote a lot and was of Plato's school and widly learned.... actually, I just summerized the entire entry for you all. Now nobody needs to read it!
As was suggested, I also read the biography of Bion. What an unfourtunate man! I wouldn't have wanted to suffer his presence. He continually used his friends, insulted them and anybody else who would listen and was stricken with sickness only to repent and ask the gods forgivness. What a small minded smart guy. Those are really the ones that one needs to keep an eye out for. They are parricites without the host knowing untill it's too late.
I find the difference between these two entries interesting. The first I read was all positive and brief, the latter was much longer and much more bitter. I wonder at the difference. Is it perhapse that it's so much easier to write of the negative things that people have done? I know that more people want to hear malicious gossip and hear horrifying news rather than happy. Is that all there is to it, though? Diogenes seems like someone who should write more thouroly than that.
The first section I read was Socrates. I found this interesting because this author is using all of his sources to create a biography of Socrates. He doesn't seem at all sure about what Socrates did for a living when he was young, he doesn't know what his demeanor really was; but he constructs one to his liking (contemptuous and arrogant is what it ends up being). But it was still interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteThe second one I read was the life of Pythagoras. I found this reading to be especially interesting in that the author included some mythical accounts of Pythagoras; that he had been given a "wish" of anything except immortality, and he chose to remember everything while he was alive and dead.
It was really interesting to see the difference between these two readings; the one on Socrates was a basic biography (if not a little skewed); but the second one focused almost entirely on religion and Pythagoras point of view.
Terry Kenny
ReplyDeleteThe stories about Xenocrates are interesting. He appeares to have been someone who was incorruptiable as the story of his mission to Phillip demonstrates. He was also not very interested in money and seemed to be content with his life. However,being human, he did posses qualities that were not admirable as well. When comparing Xenocrates to Aristotle Plato said that one requires the spur, the other the bridle. Would Xenocrates have fit the image of the philosopher as someone who was to lazy to work? Or was it an intellectual laziness that Xenocrates at times possesed?
I also read the Bion stories and wondered if he might be an ancestor of Rahm Emanuel. Bion was the kind of guy who would go to great lengths to sell the image of something that lacked any reality. He paid sailors to dress up as students and follow him around. When people would see this they would assume that he was a great teacher. This caused people to listen to what he had to say. Eratosthenes went so far as to say that Bion was the first person who had clothed philosophy in a flowery robe. Did this mean Bion made it more palpable to the average Athenian or just put a more acceptable image on the face of philosophy? And why did Bion burn all the books and tear up all the papers of his master after he died? Did he steal the ideas of his master and did not want anyone to know?
I think everyone should read the stories about Solon. The problem with debt seems to be a recuring story with many of the philosophers. Xenocrates was sold into slavery because he could not pay a tax as was Bion's father. A man,such as Solon, who institutes laws that handle indebtedness in a different manner other than slavery deserves attention.
i read diogenes and i found him surprisingly interesting. he was a very outspoken man from what i can tell. esspecaly in section 4 where he mentions how violent he is in expressing his dislike of others. he realy dosnt suger coat things if he has a problem with people he just lets it out.
ReplyDeletei also respect him very much because he isnt someone to just give up or stop doing what he belives in this line is probaly one of my favoret...
When some people said to him, "You are an old man, and should rest for the remainder of your life;" "Why so?" replied be, "suppose I had run a long distance, ought I to stop when I was near the end, and not rather press on?"
-allison rademacher
The first philosopher I read about was Archelaus and I found him really important for had he not imported natural philosophy from Ionia to Greece, Socrates may not have come across Ethical philosophy which is a cornerstone to most modern philosophy. I also thought it was really cool that he was the first person to discover that sound is produced by percussion of the air. Being a drummer this was quite cool to me.
ReplyDeleteSecond philosopher I read was Bion. I thought it was very interesting and funny that he sought to become a philosopher AFTER burning all his orator's books and destroying his papers. You'd think that someone seeking to be an educated and enlightened individual would want to read as much as possible. I also enjoyed this quote of his: "If you marry an ugly woman you will have a punishment (poinê), and if a handsome woman you will have one who is common". Its either telling you not to marry because either way it's not going to be how you envision it or to find girl that's average and unique in her own way for you to be truly happy. I like to think he is referring to the latter.