Diogenes Laertius: biography, works, quotes

Who is Diogenes Laertius? What is his biography, and how long has this man lived? What works survived after his death? The answers to all these questions can be found in this article.

Biography of Diogenes Laertius

Unfortunately, first of all it is necessary to say that for today the mysterious person remains Diogenes Laertius. His biography does not contain any reliable fact.

Based on the opinions of scientists, one can draw conclusions, then this philosopher-biographer was born in the Cilician city of Laerta. Born Diogenes Laertius (photo of his bust represented first) presumably at the end of the second century of our era and lived to the third century AD.

And the scientists, in turn, could draw such a conclusion, proceeding from the fact that the philosopher in one of his works mentions the name of Sextus Empiricus, who was his contemporary.

As for the name of Diogenes, there is also no reliable information as to whether this name is real or a pseudonym, a nickname.

The works of Diogenes

This philosopher is also called the historian of philosophy. His hand belongs to a treatise, which consists of 10 books and describes the life and work of many ancient Greek thinkers.

It is also worth noting that in this treatise all mention of 84 philosophers, quoted about a thousand utterances of more than 250 different authors.

The same treatise, authored by Diogenes Laertius, has several different names, more precisely, different sources transmit it differently. As a rule, the main ones are: "The History of Philosophy", "The Life and Opinions of Famous Philosophers", as well as "Biographies of the Sophists".

Composition of the treatise on philosophers

1. The book is about Thales, Soloj, Biant and other philosophers from the four "seven" who lived in the 7th to 6th centuries BC.
2. The second book describes the followers of the Ionian school. Separate sections are devoted to Socrates and his many followers. Also in this book are mentioned Euclid and Aristippus.
3. In the third book the life and deeds of Plato are cited. His writings are described.
4. The book is about Polemon, Carneades and other philosophers who were pupils of the Plato Academy.
5. This book describes the life and work of Aristotle, as well as his disciples Theophastus, Heraclides, and Demetrius.
6. In the sixth book the postulates of the doctrine of the cynical school are transmitted, information is given about its founder, Antisthenes and his disciples - Diogenes of Sinope, Kratete and his wife Hipparchia, Metrocles, Onesicrites and others.
7. This book Diogenes Laertius dedicated Stoic philosophical school. There are mentioned names such as Chrysippus, Ariston Chiosky, Zenon of Kitijsky and others.
8. The eighth book is fully devoted to the life and teachings of Pythagoras with the names of Empedocles, Eudoxus, Philolaus and other Pythagoreans.
9. This book describes the Eleatic school of philosophy and its representatives - Heraclitus of Ephesus, Xenophanes, Parmenides, as well as followers of the materialistic theory of philosophy - Democritus, Leucippus. The book also mentions the names of the sophist Protagoras and the skeptics of Piron and Timon.
10. The last book of the treatise is devoted to the philosopher Epicurus.

Conclusion

In conclusion, although Diogenes Laertius was a biographer, there are practically no facts about his life and activities. Conclusions about the nature and temperament can be done only on the surviving legacy and rare references of scientists.

And judging by the works, Diogenes Laertius was very wise, observant and cheerful person. Quotations that belong to him are known and are the source of wisdom, and the works are filled with humor, legends and interesting biographical facts of famous philosophers of those times:

• Diogenes asked for alms from the sculpture, and when he was asked why he was doing this, the answer was: "To accustom yourself to refusals."
• "There are a lot of people, but there are very few people in the world"
• "And where to bathe those who washed themselves here?" Once asked the philosopher, talking about a messy bath.
• In one of the books the following quotation is quoted: "Euripides gave Socrates an essay by Heraclitus and asked his opinion; He replied: "What I understand is fine; Which I did not understand, probably, too. "
• "The malicious is the most cruel of the wild beasts, and the flatterer is the most dangerous of the tame animals"

It is also important to say that Diogenes Laertius is not the philosopher whom the legend associates with the barrel. Diogenes Sinopsky arranged for himself a dwelling in a barrel and behaved extremely shockingly. But Diogenes Laertius, at least judging by the archives, was not seen in this way.