The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers · Chapter
Endnotes explained
This chapter provides extensive endnotes and references for the main text, including discussions on Zoroaster, Persian theology, Greek lawgivers, and various philosophical doctrines.
What happens
This chapter provides extensive endnotes and references for the main text, including discussions on Zoroaster, Persian theology, Greek lawgivers, and various philosophical doctrines. It also includes textual clarifications, translations, and citations from classical sources such as Herodotus, Virgil, and Gibbon.
Themes in this chapter
Natural Philosophy and Cosmology
The endnotes discuss Persian cosmology with the two principles of Ormusd and Ahriman, and the concept of 'Time without bounds'.
Political Engagement and Tyranny
The laws of Zaleucus and Charondas illustrate early Greek political and legal systems, including the story of Zaleucus enforcing his own law.
Death and Legacy
Empedocles' dramatic death by leaping into Mount Etna is recounted, highlighting his legacy as a philosopher.
Characters to notice
- Solon
Mentioned in relation to the lunar calendar and the naming of the last day of the month.
- Heraclitus
Referenced in connection with the Ephesian royal family and his philosophical stance.
- Empedocles
His death by leaping into Mount Etna is noted, with a reference to Horace.
- Zaleucus
Mentioned as a lawgiver who enforced a law against entering the senate house in arms.
- Charondas
Discussed as a lawgiver of Catana, with details on his laws and possible Pythagorean connection.
- Pythagoras
Mentioned in relation to Zoroaster's chronology and as a possible teacher of Charondas.
- Zeno of Citium
Referenced in a note about the Stoic classification of predicates.
- Socrates
Used as an example in a Stoic grammatical explanation.
Key passages
“The great and fundamental article of the system (of the Persian theology) was the celebrated doctrine of the two principles; a bold and injudicious attempt of Eastern philosophy to reconcile the existence of moral and physical evil with the attributes of a beneficent Creator and governor of the world.”
The core of Persian theology was the doctrine of two opposing principles, an ambitious but flawed effort to explain evil in a world created by a good God.
This summarizes Gibbon's description of Zoroastrian dualism.
“Fasting and celibacy, the common means of purchasing the divine favor, he condemns with abhorrence, as a criminal rejection of the best gifts of Providence.”
Zoroaster strongly rejected fasting and celibacy, viewing them as a sinful denial of God's blessings.
This reflects Zoroaster's legislative concern for public happiness.
“There is a great variety of suggestions as to the proper reading here. There is evidently some corruption in the text.”
Scholars have proposed many different readings, as the original text is clearly corrupted.
This is a common textual note in the endnotes.
