187 Chrysippus the philosopher used to propound arguments of this kind:170 “He who divulges the mysteries to the uninitiated is guilty of impiety; but the hierophant reveals the Mysteries to the uninitiated;171 therefore the hierophant is guilty of impiety.” And another: “That which is not in the city is not in the house either; there is no well in the city, therefore there is none in the house either.” And another: “There is a head, but you do not have that particular head; so there is a head you do not have; therefore you do not have a head.”
188 There are writers who run Chrysippus down on the grounds that he wrote much that is obscene and unspeakable. For in his work On Ancient Natural Philosophers he gives an obscene version of the story of Hera and Zeus,173 with details near line 600 that no one could repeat without soiling his lips. For they say that his interpretation of the story is quite obscene (even if he commends it as a contribution to natural philosophy), its language being more suitable to prostitutes than to gods. Nor is his version even placed on record by historians of painting. For it is found neither in Polemon, nor in Hypsicrates, nor even in Antigonus.174 It is his own invention.
189 And in his work On the Republic he says that one can have intercourse with one’s mother, one’s daughters, and one’s sons.175 He says the same thing right at the beginning of his work On Things Not Worth Choosing for Their Own Sake. And in the third book of his work On Justice, near line 1000, he condones the eating of corpses.176 And in the second book of his work On the Means of Making a Living, where he proposes to consider how the wise man should provide for himself, he says: “And yet, why should he provide for himself?177 If to support life, life is an indifferent; if for pleasure, that too is an indifferent; and if for virtue, virtue itself is sufficient for happiness. The ways of making a living are also ridiculous: maintenance by a king—you would have to humor him; or by friends—then friendship will have a price; or living by one’s wisdom—then wisdom will become mercenary.” These are the objections leveled at him.
Marble fragment of the Great Eleusinian Relief. Early Imperial Roman copy of a Greek marble relief of c. 450–425 BC found at the sanctuary of Demeter at Eleusis. Demeter, the goddess of agricultural abundance, stands at the left, holding a scepter. At the right is Persephone, her daughter. Each goddess extends her right hand toward a nude youth, but it is no longer possible to determine what the hands held. The boy is thought to be Triptolemus, who was sent by Demeter to teach men how to cultivate grain.
190,191,192,193,194,195,196,197,198,199,200,201,202 Since his books are highly regarded, I have decided to include a catalogue of them, grouping the works according to subject matter. They are as follows:
LOGIC
On Logic <…>
Logical Theses <…>
The Philosopher’s Inquiries
Dialectical Definitions, Addressed to Metrodorus, six books
On the Terms Employed in Dialectic, Addressed to Zeno, one book
Art of Dialectic, Addressed to Aristagoras, one book
Persuasive Conditional Arguments, Addressed to Dioscurides, four books
LOGIC AS CONCERNED WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER
First series:
On Propositions, one book
On Nonsimple Propositions, one book
On the Complex Proposition, Addressed to Athenades, two books
On Negative Propositions, Addressed to Aristagoras, three books
On Definite Propositions, Addressed to Athenodorus, one book
On Propositions Expressed by Means of Privation, Addressed to Thearus, one book
On Indefinite Propositions, Addressed to Dion, three books
On the Variety of Indefinite Propositions, four books
On Temporal Propositions, two books
On Propositions in the Aorist Tense, two books
Second series:
On the True Disjunctive Proposition, Addressed to Gorgippides, one book
On the True Hypothetical Proposition, Addressed to Gorgippides, four books
Choice, Addressed to Gorgippides, one book
Remarks on the Subject of Consequents, one book
On the Argument That Employs Three Propositions, Addressed to Gorgippides, one book
On Propositions of Possibility, Addressed to Clitus, four books
A Reply to Philo’s Work on Meanings, one book
On the Question What Are False Propositions, one book
Third series:
On Imperatives, two books
On Interrogations, two books
On Inquiry, four books
Epitome Concerning Interrogation and Inquiry, one book
Epitome Concerning Replies, one book
On Replies, four books
Fourth series:
On Predicates, Addressed to Metrodorus, ten books
On Nominatives and Oblique Cases, Addressed to Phylarchus, one book
On Predicates That Have a Subject in the Nominative, Addressed to Apollonides, one book
To Pasylus, on Predicates, four books
Fifth series:
On the Five Cases, one book
On Modes of Expression Grouped According to Subject Matter, one book
On Incidental Signification, Addressed to Stesagoras, two books
On Common Nouns, two books
LOGIC AS CONCERNED WITH WORDS OR PHRASES AND THE SENTENCE
First series:
On Singular and Plural Enunciations, six books
On Expressions, Addressed to Sosigenes and Alexander, five books
On Linguistic Anomaly, Addressed to Dion, four books
On Sorites Arguments Relating to Utterances, three books
On Solecisms, one book
On Solecistic Arguments, Addressed to Dionysius, one book
Arguments That Depend on Customary Usage, one book
Expression, Addressed to Dionysius, one book
Second series:
On the Elements of Speech and on Things Said, five books
On the Syntax of Things Said, four books
On the Syntax and Elements of Things Said, Addressed to Philip, three books
On the Elements of Speech, Addressed to Nicias, one book
On Things Said Relatively, one book
Third series:
Against Those Who Reject Division, two books
On Ambiguities, Addressed to Apollas, four books
On Mode Ambiguities, one book
On Conditional Mode Ambiguity, two books
A Reply to the Work of Panthoides on Ambiguities, two books
On the Introductory Course on Ambiguities, five books
Epitome of the Work on Ambiguities, Addressed to Epicrates, one book
Conditionals for the Introductory Course on Ambiguities, two books
LOGIC AS CONCERNED WITH ARGUMENTS AND MODES
First series:
Handbook of Arguments and Modes, Addressed to Dioscurides, five books
On Arguments, three books
On the Construction of Modes, Addressed to Stesagoras, two books
Comparison of the Propositions Expressed in the Modes, one book
On Reciprocal and Hypothetical Syllogisms, one book
To Agathon or On the Problems of What Follows, one book
On the Question What Premises Could Demonstrate a Given Conclusion with the Aid of One or More Other Premises, one book
On Conclusions, Addressed to Aristagoras, one book
On How the Same Syllogism May Be Arranged in Several Modes, one book
A Reply to the Objection to Arranging the Same Argument
Both in a Syllogistic and in a Nonsyllogistic Mode, two books
A Reply to the Objections to the Analyses of Syllogisms, three books
A Reply to Philo’s Work on Modes, Addressed to Timostratus, one book
An Anthology of Material on Logic, Addressed to Timocrates and Philomachus: An Introduction to the Topic of Arguments and Modes, one book
Second series:
On Conclusive Arguments, Addressed to Zeno, one book
On the Primary Indemonstrable Syllogisms, Addressed to Zeno, one book
On the Analysis of Syllogisms, one book
On Redundant Arguments, Addressed to Pasylus, two books
On the Theorems Pertaining to Syllogisms, one book
On the Introductory Syllogisms, Addressed to Zeno, one book
On the Introductory Modes, Addressed to Zeno, three books
On Syllogisms in False Figures, five books
Syllogistic Arguments by Analysis in Indemonstrable Arguments, one book
Inquiries into the Modes, Addressed to Zeno and Philomathes, one book (This appears to be spurious.)
Third series:
On Changing Arguments, Addressed to Athenades, one book (spurious)
Changing Arguments Concerned with the Adverb, three books (spurious)
Reply to Ameinias’ “Disjunctive Syllogisms,” one book
Fourth series:
On Hypotheses, Addressed to Meleager, three books
Hypothetical Syllogisms Based on the Laws, Addressed to Meleager, one book
Hypothetical Syllogisms to Serve as an Introduction, two books
Hypothetical Syllogisms Consisting of Theorems, two books
Solutions of Hedylus’ Hypothetical Syllogisms, two books
Solution of Alexander’s Hypothetical Syllogisms, three books (spurious)
On Explanations, Addressed to Leodamas, one book
Fifth series:
On the Introductory Course to the “Lying” Argument, Addressed to Aristocreon, one book
“Lying”-Type Arguments: An Introduction, one book
On the “Lying” Argument, Addressed to Aristocreon, six books
Sixth series:
A Reply to Those Who Hold That Propositions May Be Simultaneously False and True, one book
Reply to Those Who Solve the “Liar” Argument by Dissecting It, Addressed to Aristocreon, two books
Proofs Showing That Indefinite Propositions Should Not Be Dissected, one book
A Reply to Objections to What Is Said Against the Dissection of Indefinite Propositions, Addressed to Pasylus, three books
Solution According to the Ancients, Addressed to Dioscurides, one book
On the Solution of the “Liar” Argument, Addressed to Aristocreon, three books
Solution of Hedylus’ Hypothetical Arguments, Addressed to Aristocreon and Apollas, one book
Seventh series:
Reply to Those Who Hold That the Premises of the “Liar” Argument Are False, one book
On the “Denying” Argument, Addressed to Aristocreon, two books
“Denying” Arguments for Training, one book
On the “Little-by-Little” Argument, Addressed to Stesagoras, two books
On the Arguments Relating to Assumptions, and on Quiescent Arguments, Addressed to Onetor, two books
On the “Veiled Man” Argument, Addressed to Aristobulus, two books
On the “Man Who Escapes Detection” Argument, Addressed to Athenades, one book
Eighth series:
On the “Nobody” Argument, Addressed to Menecrates, eight books
On the Arguments Formed with an Indefinite and a Definite Proposition, Addressed to Pasylus, two books
On the “Nobody” Argument, Addressed to Epicrates, one book
Ninth series:
Philosophy Presenting the Seven Liberal Arts to Boethius, by the Coëtivy Master, c. 1460–1470. On the far left, Boethius speaks to Philosophy, who presents him with personifications of the seven liberal arts, identified from left to right as Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Music, Geometry, Arithmetic, and Astronomy.
On Sophisms, Addressed to Heraclides and Pollis, two books
On Dialectical Puzzles, Addressed to Dioscurides, five books
Remarks on the Method of Arcesilaus, Addressed to Sphaerus, one book
Tenth series:
Attack on Customary Usage, Addressed to Metrodorus, six books
Defense of Customary Usage, Addressed to Gorgippides, seven books
The topic of logic includes thirty-nine investigations that are outside the range of the four above-mentioned divisions; they address themes already enumerated, but are isolated logical investigations and are not included in the didactic corpus. All together the logical writings number 311.
ETHICAL THEORY AS CONCERNED WITH THE ARTICULATION OF ETHICAL CONCEPTIONS
First series:
Outline of Ethical Theory, Addressed to Theoporus, one book
Ethical Theses, one book
Convincing Premises for Ethical Doctrines, Addressed to Philomathes, three books
Definitions of the Virtuous, Addressed to Metrodorus, two books
Definitions of the Base, Addressed to Metrodorus, two books
Definitions of the Ethically Intermediate, Addressed to Metrodorus, two books
Definitions of the Generic Notions, Addressed to Metrodorus, seven books
Definitions Concerned with the Other Branches of Expertise, Addressed to Metrodorus, two books
Second series:
On Similars, Addressed to Aristocles, three books
On Definitions, Addressed to Metrodorus, seven books
Third series:
On the Faulty Objections to the Definitions, Addressed to Laodamas, seven books
Persuasive Arguments in Support of the Definitions, Addressed to Dioscurides, two books
On Species and Genera, Addressed to Gorgippides, two books
On Divisions, one book
On Opposites, Addressed to Dionysius, two books
Convincing Arguments Against the Divisions and Genera and Species, and That Which Concerns the Contraries, one book
Fourth series:
On Etymologies, Addressed to Diocles, seven books
Etymological Matters, Addressed to Diocles, four books
Fifth series:
On Proverbs, Addressed to Zenodotus, two books
On Poems, Addressed to Philomathes, one book
On the Right Way to Listen to Poems Read Aloud, two books
A Reply to the Critics, Addressed to Diodorus, one book
ETHICS AS CONCERNED WITH REASON IN COMMUNITY LIFE AND THE SKILLS AND VIRTUES THAT ARISE FROM IT
First series:
Against Pictorial Representations, Addressed to Timonax, one book
On How We Name Each Thing and Conceive of It, one book
On Conceptions, Addressed to Laodamas, two books
On Assumption, Addressed to Pythonax, three books
Proofs That the Wise Man Will Not Hold Opinions, one book
On Apprehension, Knowledge, and Ignorance, four books
On Reason, two books
On the Use of Reason, Addressed to Leptines
Second series:
On the Fact That the Ancients Accepted Dialectic along with Proofs, Addressed to Zeno, two books
On Dialectic, Addressed to Aristocreon, four books
On Objections Made Against the Dialecticians, three books
On Rhetoric, Addressed to Dioscurides, four books
Third series:
On Habit, Addressed to Cleon, three books
On Skill and Lack of Skill, Addressed to Aristocreon, four books
On the Difference Between the Virtues, Addressed to Diodorus, four books
On the Fact That the Virtues Are Qualities, one book
On Virtues, addressed to Pollis, two books
ETHICS AS CONCERNED WITH THINGS GOOD AND BAD
First series:
On the Morally
Beautiful and Pleasure, Addressed to Aristocreon, ten books
Proofs That Pleasure Is Not the Goal, four books
Proofs That Pleasure Is Not a Good, four books
On What Is Said about <…>178
1 Crates of Thebes (c. 368/65–288/85 BC), the Cynic whose life and views are discussed at 6.85–93.
2 Diogenes discusses Stilpo’s life and views at 2.113–20.
3 Xenocrates (c. 396–c. 314 BC) succeeded Speusippus as head of the Platonic Academy. His life and views are discussed at 4.6–15.
4 Head of the Academy from 314 to c. 276 BC. Diogenes discusses his life and views at 4.16–20.
5 Xenophon was an Athenian historian, essayist, and admirer of Socrates (the Memorabilia consists largely of a set of Socratic dialogues). Diogenes discusses his life and views at 2.48–59.
6 A large neighborhood in Athens, so named because it included the potters’ district.
7 Cynosura (“the dog’s tail”) was the name of a promontory near Athens, but the joke comes from the double meaning of “dog” (kuōn), which can also mean “Cynic philosopher.” The “tail of the dog” thus refers both to Cynosura and to Crates’ mentorship. Zeno’s Republic, modeled on that of Plato, does not survive.
8 A stoa is a covered public walkway. Polygnotus of Thasos collaborated with an Athenian painter, Micos, to cover this stoa with murals depicting mythic and historical battles; the stoa thereafter was known as poikilē, “dappled” or “multicolored,” usually rendered “painted” in this context. Peisianax was supposedly responsible for the construction of the stoa, which ran along the north side of the agora.
Lives of the Eminent Philosophers Page 46