Complete Works of Diogenes Laertius (Delphi Classics) (Delphi Ancient Classics Book 47)

1983 Pages·2015·10.07 MB·English

by  Diogenes Laërtius

The Complete Works of
DIOGENES LAËRTIUS
(fl. c. 3rd century AD)

Contents
The Translation
LIVES OF THE EMINENT PHILOSOPHERS
The Greek Text
CONTENTS OF THE GREEK TEXT
The Dual Text
DUAL GREEK AND ENGLISH TEXT
The Testimonia
TESTIMONIA
The Delphi Classics Catalogue

© Delphi Classics 2015
Version 1

The Complete Works of
DIOGENES LAËRTIUS

By Delphi Classics, 2015
COPYRIGHT

Complete Works of Diogenes Laertius

First published in the United Kingdom in 2015 by Delphi Classics.

© Delphi Classics, 2015.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be
otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published.

Delphi Classics
is an imprint of
Delphi Publishing Ltd
Hastings, East Sussex
United Kingdom
Contact: [email protected]
www.delphiclassics.com
The Translation
Ancient ruins in Caria — very little is known about the life of Diogenes Laërtius. Some historians believe
his native town was Laerte in Caria.
LIVES OF THE EMINENT PHILOSOPHERS

Translated by R. D. Hicks

This biography of ancient Greek philosophers is believed to have been written
by Diogenes Laërtius in the first half of the third century AD. Diogenes treats
his subject in two divisions, which he divides between the Ionian and the Italian
schools. The Ionian biographies begin with Anaximander and conclude with
Clitomachus, Theophrastus and Chrysippus, while the Italian school commences
with Pythagoras and culminates with Epicurus. The Socratic school, with its
various branches, is classed with the Ionic; while the Eleatics and sceptics are
treated under the Italian branch. Diogenes also includes his own poetic, though
pedestrian, verse about the philosophers he discusses.
The compendium of biographies contains incidental remarks on many other
philosophers and there are useful accounts concerning Hegesias, Anniceris, and
Theodorus. Book VII is incomplete and breaks off during the life of Chrysippus.
From a table of contents in one of the manuscripts (manuscript P), this book is
known to have continued with Zeno of Tarsus, Diogenes, Apollodorus, Boethus,
Mnesarchides, Mnasagoras, Nestor, Basilides, Dardanus, Antipater, Heraclides,
Sosigenes, Panaetius, Hecato, Posidonius, Athenodorus, another Athenodorus,
Antipater, Arius, and Cornutus. The whole of Book X is devoted to Epicurus,
containing three long letters written by Epicurus, explaining the philosopher’s
doctrines.
Diogenes’ chief authorities were Favorinus and Diocles of Magnesia, but his
work also draws on books by Antisthenes of Rhodes, Alexander Polyhistor and
Demetrius of Magnesia, as well as works by Hippobotus, Aristippus, Panaetius,
Apollodorus of Athens, Sosicrates, Satyrus, Sotion, Neanthes, Hermippus,
Antigonus, Heraclides, Hieronymus, and Pamphila.
Dionysiou monastery, codex 90 — a 13th-century manuscript containing Diogenes Laertius’ famous work
CONTENTS

BOOK I.
Prologue
Thales
Solon
Chilon
Pittacus
Bias
Cleobulus
Periander
Anacharsis
Myson
Epimenides
Pherecydes
BOOK II.
Anaximander
Anaximenes
Anaxagoras
Archelaus
Socrates
Xenophon
Aeschines
Aristippus
Phaedo
Euclides
Stilpo
Crito
Simon
Glaucon
Simmias
Cebes
Menedemus
BOOK III.
Plato
BOOK IV.
Speusippus
Xenocrates
Polemo
Crates
Crantor
Arcesilaus
Bion
Lacydes
Carneades
Clitomachus
BOOK V.
Aristotle
Theophrastus
Strato
Lyco
Demetrius
Heraclides
BOOK VI.
Antisthenes
Diogenes
Monimus
Onesicritus
Crates
Metrocles
Hipparchia
Menippus
Menedemus
BOOK VII.
Zeno
Ariston
Herillus
Dionysius
Cleanthes