Diogenes Laërtius
Biography
Diogenes Laërtius (3rd century CE) was a biographer of the Greek philosophers whose Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers is the most important surviving source for the history of ancient Greek philosophy. Almost nothing is known about Diogenes himself, but his work preserves biographical details, philosophical doctrines, and anecdotes about philosophers from Thales to Epicurus that would otherwise be entirely lost. The work covers pre-Socratics, Socrates and his followers, Plato, Aristotle, the Stoics, the Epicureans, and the Skeptics. While his scholarship is uneven, Diogenes's compilation is indispensable to our understanding of ancient thought.
Common themes in Diogenes Laërtius's work
Ancient Greek Philosophy
A recurring theme throughout Diogenes Laërtius's writing.
Philosophical Biography
A recurring theme throughout Diogenes Laërtius's writing.
Classical Antiquity
A recurring theme throughout Diogenes Laërtius's writing.
History of Ideas
A recurring theme throughout Diogenes Laërtius's writing.
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Why Diogenes Laërtius is still read today
This is the single most important biographical source for ancient Greek philosophy. Without Diogenes Laërtius, our knowledge of many philosophers and schools would be almost nonexistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Diogenes Laërtius?
A 3rd-century biographer whose Lives of the Philosophers is the most important surviving source for the history of ancient Greek philosophy.
What is Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers about?
Biographical and philosophical accounts of Greek thinkers from Thales to Epicurus. Read it free on TextStack.
Why is this work important?
It preserves information about ancient philosophers that would otherwise be entirely lost, making it indispensable to the history of philosophy.
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