Diogenes laertius, lives of eminent philosophers, volume i. Diogenes laertius r d hicks abebooks shop for books. Part of cambridge classical texts and commentaries. A brief analysis of the vita aristotelis of diogenes laertius dl v 1. Though often uncritical, uneven, and unphilosophical, diogenes laertius was widely read and profoundly influential through his portrayal of the human side of the ancient philosophers. Diogenes laertius is not nietzsches dimwitted watchman of the history of greek philosophy, but a fascinating and underrated figure.
A wikipedia article about this author is available diogenes laertius. Besides the severe penalties, which it was in the power of the ecclesiastics to inflict in this world, they inculcated the eternal transmigration of. The text is accompanied by a full critical apparatus on three levels. Surprised that there are still publishers willing to. Despite the fact that diogenes laertius was a biographer, there were practically no facts about his life and activities. Diogenes laertius lives eminent philosophers ancient philosophy. This collection, separated from the infinite, is terminated by an extremity, which is either rare, or dense, or revolving, or in a state of repose, or of a round, or triangular, or some shape or other in fact, for it may be any shape the dissolution of which must bring. Diogenes laertius article about diogenes laertius by the. The text is accompanied by a three level apparatus. The lives and opinions of eminent philosophers by diogenes. Nothing is known about his life, but his surviving lives and opinions of eminent philosophers is a principal source for the history of greek philosophy. Long before our own day of selfhelp books offering twelvestep programs and other guides to attain happiness, the philosophers of ancient greece explored the. Diogenes laertius les vies des plus illustres philosophes 3 vols.
The editio princeps of diogenes laertius lives of the famous philosophers, is the most important source of our knowledge in the history of greek philosophy, from. This is yet another loeb book where i have shamefully lost the companion volume. Lives and the eminent philosophers of diogenes laertius is a crucial source for much of what we know about the origins of philosophy in greece. The work covers a larger number of figures and a longer period of time than any other extant ancient source, from the presocratic thales to epicurus. The lives, opinions, and remarkable sayings of the most famous ancient philosophers. As is common among ancient biographers, diogenes laertius dl, v. Nothing is definitively known about his life, but his surviving lives and opinions of eminent philosophers is a principal source for the history of.
Nothing is definitively known about his life, but his surviving. His history, in ten books, is divided unscientifically into two successions or sections. But hecaton, and apollonius, of tyre, in the first book of his essay on zeno, say that when he consulted the oracle, as to what he ought to do to live in the most excellent manner, the god answered him that he ought to become of the same complexion as the dead, on which he inferred that ho ought to apply himself to the reading of the books of. There is a number of interesting anecdotes on the lives of antisthenes, diogenes of sinope, monimus, onesicritus, crates of thebes, metrocles, hipparchia, menippus and menedemus. Buy online, view images and see past prices for incunabula and early 16th cent. No species of superstition was ever more terrible than that of the druids. A luxury edition, then, at a bargain price, of diogenes laertius tenbook lives of 82 philosophers, from thales 7 th c bc to sextus empiricus 3 rd c ad. Diogenes laertius, lives of eminent philosophers, book i. The last book of the treatise is devoted to the philosopher epicurus. One of its traditional titles, peri bion dogmaton kai apophthegmaton ton en philosophia eudokimesanton lives, teachings, and sayings of famous philosophers, indicates its great scope. Ionian from anaximander to theophrastus and chrysippus, including the socratic schools.
This is a wonderful edition, brilliantly translated, with a helpful introduction and accompanying set of essays by firstrate scholars. The lives and opinions of eminent philosophers diogenes. A pioneering work in the history of philosophy, the ancient text of the lives presents engaging portraits of nearly a hundred greek philosophers. Hicks and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Isbn 9780674992047 9780674992047 hardcover, harvard university press, 1925 lives of the eminent philosophers vol.
Diogenes laertius or, laertios, to represent the original greek, instead of the customary, latin, spelling is the name of a compiler of biographies of philosophers. It includes an extensively annotated translation of diogenes laertiuss biography of diogenes and a comprehensive bibliography. Diogenes laertius was a greek writer who probably lived in the first half of the third century ad. National endowment for the humanities division of preservation and access provided support for entering this text. However, unlike many other ancient secondary sources, diogenes laertius generally reports. First editions, first printings of both volumes in this 2 volume set. Diogenes laertius, lives of eminent philosophers, book iii. This text was converted to electronic form by data entry and has been proofread to a low level of accuracy. This edition presents a radically improved text of diogenes laertius lives of eminent philosophers. Despite its importance, a complete translation of the work has not appeared in english since 1925.
Extant is a work in 10 books on the lives and opinions of the philosophers from thales to. Lives of the eminent philosophers by laertius, diogenes. Books 610 by diogenes laertius, r d hicks translator online at alibris. The bindings on both books are solid with minor wear to the spine and edges. His lives of the philosophers philosophoi biol, in ten books, is still extant and is an important source of information on the development of greek philosophy. The most popular relate it as evidence of diogenes disregard for honor, wealth, and respect. Book 7 contains the lives and doctrines of the stoic philosophers. Diogenes laertius this edition presents a radically improved text of diogenes laertius lives of eminent philosophers. The lives and opinions of eminent philosophers, trans. Lives of iminent philosophers, with an english translation by r. The period when he lived is not exactly known, but it is supposed to have been during the reigns of. Page 4 thus the bands of government, which were naturally loose among that rude and turbulent people, were happily corroborated by the terrors of their superstition. Long before our own day of selfhelp books offering twelvestep programs and other guides to attain happiness, the philosophers of ancient. Diogenes laertius 01 lives of eminent philosophers 1 5.
Diogenes laertius internet encyclopedia of philosophy. A wonderful copy of this true first edition bound in contemporary calf with red giltlettered spine labels. Diogenes laertius was a biographer of the greek philosophers. The section numbers in the greek text are shown in red and the section numbers in the translation are shown in green.
Diogenes laertius lived probably in the earlier half of the 3rd century ce, his ancestry and birthplace being unknown. Lives of eminent philosophers, volume i diogenes laertius. Nothing is known about his life, apart from his authorship of the lives of the eminent philosophers. Diogenes laertius, lives of eminent philosophers, book vi. All the big names are herethales, pythagoras, anaxagoras, heraclitus, socrates, plato, aristotle, epicurus and so onall exemplifying the three branches of ancient philosophy as. Sold by quintessential rare books, llc at abebooks. A lengthy introduction lists all the manuscripts of the lives and discusses its transmission in. Lives of eminent philosophers, vol 1, books 15 by diogenes laertius.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Invaluable is the worlds largest marketplace for art, antiques, and collectibles. Diogenes laertius carefully compiled his information from hundreds of sources and enriches his accounts with numerous quotations. The lives and opinions of eminent philosophers by diogenes laertius.
This is volume ii of the lives of eminent philosophers and it has, among many others, sections on pythagoras, parmenides, heraclitus, zeno, epicurus and diogenes this last is the philosophercynic, not our author diogenes laertius, who is really little more than a sophisticated gossip. The meeting of diogenes of sinope and alexander the great is one of the most discussed anecdotes from philosophical history. Diogenes laertius probably early third century bce compiled his compendium on the lives and doctrines of the ancient philosophers from hundreds of sources. Henricus aristippus, the archdeacon of catania, produced a latin translation of diogenes laertiuss book in southern italy in the late. Diogenes laertius, native of laerte in cilicia, was a biographer of ancient greek philosophers. Wherein is containd the lives of several others of the ancient philosophers. The lives of the philosophers, by diogenes laertius, is the most comprehensive ancient account of the lives of the early greek philosophers.
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