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 most extended however were those concerning sacrifices, how they
ought to be performed at all other times, and likewise when migrating
from the present life; and concerning sepulture, and in what manner it
is proper to be buried. Of some of these therefore the reason is to be
assigned why they are ordered; such for instance as, it is necessary to
beget children, for the sake of leaving another that may worship the
Gods instead of yourself. But of others no reason is to be assigned. And
of some indeed, the reasons are assumed proximately; but of others,
remotely; such as, that bread is not to be broken, because it
contributes to the judgment in Hades. The probable reasons however,
which are added about things of this kind, are not Pythagoric, but were
devised by some who philosophized differently from the Pythagoreans, and
who endeavoured to adapt probability to what was said. Thus for
instance, with respect to what has been just now mentioned, why bread is
not to be broken, some say that it is not proper to dissolve that which
congregates. For formerly all those that were friends, assembled in a
barbaric manner to one piece of bread. But others say, that it is not
proper, in the beginning of an undertaking, to produce an omen of this
kind by breaking and diminishing. Moreover, all such precepts as define
what is to be done, or what is not to be done, refer to divinity as
their end; and every life is co-arranged so as to _follow God_. This
also is the principle and the doctrine of philosophy. For men act
ridiculously in searching for good any where else than from the Gods.
And when they do so, it is just as if some one, in a country governed by
a king, should reverence one of the citizens who is a magistrate, and
neglect him who is the ruler of all of them. For the Pythagoreans
thought that such men as we have just mentioned, performed a thing of
this kind. For since God is, and is the lord of all things, it is
universally acknowledged that good is to be requested of him. For all
men impart good to those whom they love, and to those with whom they are
delighted; but they give the contrary to good to those to whom they are
contrarily disposed. And such indeed is the wisdom of these precepts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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