Iamblichus' Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life: Accompanied by Fragments of the Ethical Writings of certain Pythagoreans in the Doric dialect; and a collection of Pythagoric Sentences from Stobaeus and others, which are omitted by Gale in his Opuscula Mythologica, and have not been noticed by any editorIamblichus
Philosophy
Iamblichus' Life of Pythagoras, or Pythagoric Life: Accompanied by Fragments of the Ethical Writings of certain Pythagoreans in the Doric dialect; and a collection of Pythagoric Sentences from Stobaeus and others, which are omitted by Gale in his Opuscula Mythologica, and have not been noticed by any editor
Iamblichus
Ethics, Ancient; Philosophers -- Greece -- Biography; Philosophy, Ancient; Pythagoras; Pythagoras and Pythagorean school
The species however, and the parts of it, may be surveyed as follows:
Since there are two parts of the soul, the rational and the irrational;
the latter is divided into the irascible and appetitive. And the
rational part, indeed, is that by which we judge and contemplate; but
the irrational part is that by which we are impelled and desire. And of
this, that which is as it were adapted to defend us, and revenge
incidental molestations, is denominated the irascible part; but that
which is as it were orectic of, and desires to preserve the proper
constitution of the body, is the appetitive part. It is evident
therefore, that the multitude of the virtues, their differences, and
their peculiarities, follow conformably to these parts of the soul.
FROM CLINIAS.
Every virtue is perfected, as was shown by us in the beginning, from
reason, deliberate choice, and power. Each of these, however, is not by
itself a part of virtue, but the cause of it. Such therefore, as have
the intellective and gnostic part of virtue,[67] are denominated skilful
and intelligent; but such as have the ethical and pre-elective part of
it, are denominated useful and equitable.[68] Since however, man is
naturally adapted to act unjustly from exciting causes; and these are
three, the love of pleasure in corporeal enjoyments; avarice, in the
accumulation of wealth; and ambition, in surpassing those that are equal
and similar to him;—this being the case, it is necessary to know, that
it is possible to oppose to these such things as procure fear, shame,
and desire in men; viz. fear through the laws, shame through the Gods,
and desire through the energies of reason. Hence, it is necessary that
youth should be taught from the first to honor the Gods and the laws.
For from these, it will be manifest, that every human work, and every
kind of human life, by the participation of sanctity and piety, will
sail prosperously [over the sea of generation].
FROM
THEAGES,
IN HIS TREATISE
ON THE VIRTUES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account