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
With respect to justice, however, we shall learn in the best manner, how
he cultivated and delivered it to mankind, if we survey it from its
first principle, and from what first causes it germinates, and also
direct our attention to the first cause of injustice. For thus we shall
discover how he avoided the latter, and what methods he adopted in order
that the former might be properly ingenerated in the soul. The principle
of justice therefore, is the common and the equal, through which, in a
way most nearly approximating to one body and one soul, all men may be
co-passive, and may call the same thing mine and thine; as is also
testified by Plato, who learnt this from the Pythagoreans. This
therefore, Pythagoras effected in the best manner, exterminating every
thing private in manners, but increasing that which is common as far as
to ultimate possessions, which are the causes of sedition and tumult.
For all things [with his disciples] were common and the same to all, and
no one possessed any thing private. And he indeed, who approved of this
communion, used common possessions in the most just manner; but he who
did not, received his own property, which he brought to the common
stock, with an addition to it, and departed. And thus he established
justice in the best manner, from the first principle of it.
In the next place, therefore, association with men introduces justice;
but alienation, and a contempt of the common genus, produce injustice.
Wishing therefore to insert this familiarity from afar in men, he also
ordained that his disciples should extend it to animals of the same
genus, and commanded them to consider these as their familiars and
friends; so as neither to injure, nor slay, nor eat any one of them. He
therefore who associates men with animals, because they consist of the
same elements as we do, and participate with us of a more common life,
will in a much greater degree establish fellowship with those who
partake of a soul of the same species, and also of a rational soul. From
this also it is evident that he introduced justice produced from the
most proper principle. Since likewise the want of riches, sometimes
compels many to do something contrary to justice, he well foresaw that
this would be the case, and through economy procured for himself liberal
expenses, and what was just in sufficient abundance. For again, a just
arrangement of domestic concerns is the principle of all good order in
cities. For cities are constituted from houses. It is said therefore,
that Pythagoras himself was the heir of the property of Alcæus, who died
after performing an embassy to the Lacedæmonians, but that
notwithstanding this, he was no less admired for his economy than for
his philosophy. When also he was married, he so educated the daughter
that was born to him, and who was afterwards married to Meno the
Crotonian, that when she was a virgin she was the leader of choirs, but
when a wife she held the first place among those that approached to
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