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!)
I read about Protagoras. Diogenes Laertius (DL) points out that Protagoras was the "first" for many things. For example, he says that Protagoras was the, "first to maintain that there are two sides to every question, opposed to each other, and he even argued in this fashion, being the first to do so." DL also says that Protagoras "introduced the method of discussion which is called Socratic." Other things that are attributed to Protagoras include, "...the first to distinguish the tenses of verbs, to emphasize the importance of seizing the right moment, to institute contests in debating..." Protagoras seems to have been a more innovative thinker during his time.
ReplyDeleteProtagoras struggled in Athens. In one of his book introductions, he wrote, "As to the gods, I have no means of knowing either that they exist or that they do not exist. For many are the obstacles that impede knowledge, both the obscurity of the question and the shortness of human life.” According to DL, the Athenians "expelled him...and burnt his works in the marketplace." Wow!
I read about Anaxagoras. One of the most interesting aspects of Diogenes Laertius' account of his life was Anaxagoras' views on astronomy. Diogenes Laertius says, "He declared the sun to be a mass of red-hot metal and to be larger than the Peloponnesus, though others ascribe this view to Tantalus; he declared that there were dwellings on the moon, and moreover hills and ravines."
ReplyDeleteIn particular I find Anaxagoras' ideas about the moon to be the most interesting. I wonder what methods he used to come to his conclusions. Diogenes Laertius claims he believed there was life on the moon, but what made Anaxagoras think this? Without much of the technology we have today, it's hard to understand what made Anaxagoras think this. Maybe other thoughts on this issue the same during this this time and that's what made Anaxagoras think this?
I read about chilon, and really liked the quote, "Do not use threats to any one; for that is womanish. " I just thought that that was super interesting because its not women who are usually threatening people, that is typically a thing men do. It makes me wonder what kind of people he hung out with. I also think that if a woman is making threats you should probably be scared because women are sneaky.
ReplyDeleteAbbigail Patton.
I found the life of Diogenes to be particularly interesting. His early life was filled with setbacks as he was banished from his home (from either the sins of the father or his own the accounts vary), he tried seeking the approval of a philosopher who didn't want students, and for the most of his life he was poor.
ReplyDeleteStill, he chose adaptability over comfort, and often shied away from the extremities of materiel value. He did enjoy criticizing the masses of Athens, and was arguably one of the most cynical men to have ever existed. He was also a constant thorn in the side of Plato, whom Diogenes felt to be very pretentious and egotistical.