# Herillus explained — The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers

> Chapter companion for The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laërtius.

## What happens

This chapter discusses Herillus of Carthage, a philosopher who identified the chief good as knowledge and emphasized living according to knowledge without being misled by ignorance. It explores his views on the chief good, subordinate ends, and the indifference of things between virtue and vice. The chapter also notes his concise but powerful writings and an anecdote about Zeno persuading him to shave his head to deter his followers.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ethics and Self-Control

Herillus emphasizes knowledge as the chief good and the importance of living according to reason, reflecting ethical self-control.

## Character check-ins

### Herillus

A native of Carthage, Herillus argued that the chief good is knowledge and that one should always conduct oneself according to knowledge, not ignorance.

### Zeno of Citium

Zeno persuaded Herillus to shave his head to drive away his many followers.

## Key lines

> the chief good was knowledge; that is to say, the always conducting oneself in such a way as to refer everything to the principle of living according to knowledge, and not been misled by ignorance.

Herillus defined the ultimate good as knowledge, meaning one should always act in accordance with knowledge and avoid being deceived by ignorance.

_This captures Herillus's core ethical doctrine._

> he said that there was no such thing as a chief good, but that circumstances and events changed it, just as the same piece of brass might become a statue either of Alexander or of Socrates.

He argued that the chief good is not fixed; rather, it changes with circumstances, like a piece of brass that can be shaped into a statue of Alexander or Socrates.

_This illustrates Herillus's relativistic view of the chief good._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/herillus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters