The Lives and Opinions of Eminent PhilosophersDiogenes Laertius
Philosophy
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Diogenes Laertius
Philosophers, Ancient -- Biography; Philosophy, Ancient
XXXIX. But since there are some particular marks put in his books, we
must also say something about them. × indicates peculiar expressions and
figures of speech, and generally any peculiarities of Plato’s style. When
doubled it points to the doctrines and peculiar opinions of Plato; ※
when dotted all round, points to some select bits of beautiful writing.
When doubled and dotted it indicates corrections of some passages. A
dotted obelus indicates hasty disapprovals. An inverted sigma dotted
all round points out passages which may be taken in a double sense, and
transpositions of words. The Ceraunium[33] indicates a connection of
philosophical ideas. An asterisk points out an agreement in doctrine. And
an obelus marks the rejection of the expression or of the passage. These
then are the marginal marks which occur, and the writings of which Plato
was the author:—which, as Antigonus the Carystian says, in his treatise
on Zeno, when they had been but lately published, brought in some gain to
the possessors, if any one else was desirous of reading them.
XL. These now were his chief opinions. He affirmed that the soul was
immortal and clothed in many bodies successively, and that its first
principle was number, and that the first principle of the body was
geometry. And he defined it as an abstract idea of spirit diffused in
every direction. He said also, that it was self-moving and threefold. For
that that part of it which was capable of reasoning was situated in the
head, that that portion which was affected by passion was seated around
the heart, and that which was appetitive was placed around the navel and
the liver. And that it is placed in the middle of the body, and embraces
it at the same time in all its parts, and that it consists of elements;
and that when it is divided according to harmonic intervals it forms
two connected circles; of which the inner circle is divided into six
portions, and makes in all seven circles; and that this is placed on the
left hand of the diameter, and situated in the interior. But the other
is on the right hand of the same line; on which account, and because it
is one only, it is the superior of the two. For the other is divided
internally; and this too, is the circle of that which is always the same;
the other, the circle of that which is changeable and different. And the
one he says is the motion of the soul, but the other is the motion of the
universe and of the planets.
On the other side, the division of the circles from the centre to the
extremities, being harmoniously appropriated to the essence of the soul,
the one knows existing things and establishes harmony between them,
because it is itself composed of harmonious elements. The circle of what
is changeable, engenders opinion by its regular movements; but the circle
of that which is always the same produces knowledge.
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