The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers · Chapter
Bion explained
This chapter recounts the life, character, and philosophical journey of Bion of Borysthenes, including his humble and scandalous origins, his education under various philosophical schools (Academy, Cynics, Theodorean, Peripatetic), his witt
What happens
This chapter recounts the life, character, and philosophical journey of Bion of Borysthenes, including his humble and scandalous origins, his education under various philosophical schools (Academy, Cynics, Theodorean, Peripatetic), his witty and often cynical sayings, his theatrical and self-serving behavior, and his eventual deathbed conversion to superstition and repentance for his earlier atheism.
Themes in this chapter
The Philosopher's Life and Character
The chapter focuses on Bion's personal history, his humble and scandalous origins, his philosophical transformations, and his deathbed repentance, illustrating the interplay between a philosopher's life and his teachings.
Ethics and Self-Control
Bion's sayings and actions often touch on ethical themes such as self-conceit, prudence, the proper use of wealth, and the nature of friendship, though his own behavior was criticized as self-indulgent and shameless.
Characters to notice
- Bion of Borysthenes
The subject of the chapter; a versatile and subtle philosopher known for his wit, impiety, and eclectic philosophical training.
- Antigonus of Carystus
King who questioned Bion about his origins and later sent servants to attend him during his final illness.
- Crates of Thebes
Bion became a disciple of Crates early in his career, adopting the Cynic cloak and wallet.
- Theophrastus
Bion studied under Theophrastus, the Peripatetic, after leaving Theodorus.
- Menedemus of Eretria
Mentioned in an anecdote about Bion's shameless associate Betion spending evenings with Bion.
Key passages
“My father was a freedman, who used to wipe his mouth with his sleeve, (by which he meant that he used to sell salt fish). As to his race, he was a native of the district of the Borysthenes; having no countenance, but only a brand in his face, a token of the bitter cruelty of his master. My mother was such a woman as a man of that condition might marry, taken out of a brothel.”
Bion reveals to King Antigonus that his father was a freedman and a fishmonger, his mother a prostitute, and that he himself was once sold into slavery.
Bion's frank disclosure of his lowly origins to Antigonus, defending himself against slander.
“If you marry an ugly woman you will have a punishment ( ποινὴ ), and if a handsome woman you will have one who is common ( κοινή ).”
Bion quipped that marrying an ugly wife is a punishment, while marrying a beautiful wife means sharing her with others.
A cynical aphorism attributed to Bion about the drawbacks of marriage.
“He used to say that self-conceit was the enemy of progress.”
Bion believed that arrogance hinders personal improvement.
A concise ethical maxim from Bion.
“That man does not possess his estate, but his estate possesses him.”
Bion said of a miserly rich man that his wealth owns him, not the other way around.
A critique of greed and the inversion of proper relationship between person and property.
“We hear that Bion the Borysthenite, Whom the ferocious Scythian land brought forth, Used to deny that there were Gods at all. ... Then did this atheist shrink, and give his neck To an old woman to hang charms upon, And bound his arms with magic amulets, With laurel branches blocked his doors and windows, Ready to do and venture anything Rather than die.”
The poet describes how Bion, who had denied the gods his whole life, in his final illness resorted to superstitious charms and amulets out of fear of death.
A poetic account of Bion's deathbed conversion and hypocrisy.
