The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
by Diogenes Laertius (1812–1891)
- Free to read
- 13 hours to read
- 11 chapters
- Reading level: 10th to 12th grade
"The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers" by Diogenes Laertius is a compilation of historical accounts and biographical sketches written in the late 2nd century AD. This extensive work chronicles the lives and philosophies of various notable Greek philosophers, providing insights into their thoughts, contributions, and contexts. The text serves as a crucial source of information about the history of Greek philosophy, linking the emergence of philosophical thought to prominent figures like Thales, Solon, and Socrates. At the start of this work, the author presents an introduction outlining the origins and classifications of philosophy, distinguishing between the influences of Greek and non-Greek traditions. Diogenes Laertius discusses early philosophical figures and sets the stage for a more detailed exploration of notable philosophers, specifically starting with Thales. The opening portion introduces the structure of the work, highlighting the significance of philosophical teachings and the impact of early philosophers on subsequent thought, ultimately leading to a deeper dive into the lives of these influential thinkers.
- Philosophy, Ancient
- Philosophers, Ancient · Biography
Read the opening
Book II
LIFE OF ANAXIMANDER.
I. Anaximander, the son of Praxiadas, was a citizen of Miletus.
II. He used to assert that the principle and primary element of all things was the Infinity, giving no exact definition as to whether he meant air or water, or anything else. And he said that the parts were susceptible of change, but that the whole was unchangeable; and that the earth lay in the middle, being placed there as a sort of centre, of a spherical shape. The moon, he said, had a borrowed light, and borrowed it from the sun; and the sun he affirmed to be not less than the earth, and the purest possible fire.
III. He also was the first discoverer of the gnomon; and he placed some in Lacedæmon on the sun-dials there, as Phavorinus says in his Universal History, and they showed the solstices and the equinoxes; he also made clocks. He was the first person, too, who drew a map of the earth and sea, and he also made a globe; and he published a concise statement of whatever opinions he embraced or entertained; and this treatise was met with by Apollodorus, the Athenian.
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About this edition
This free edition of The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #57342, released 2018-06-16. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Biographies, Classics of Literature, Philosophy & Ethics.
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