of the system gradually gathered around the original kernel of ethics.
But knowing Stoicism only as we do from the form which it attained
after the time of Chrysippus, it will be enough, in analysing that
form, to proceed from without to within, and to advance from logic
through natural science to ethics. When this has been done it will be
time to go back over the same ground, and to explain how from the
ethical tone of Stoicism its peculiar speculative tenets may be
deduced.
CHAPTER V.
LOGIC OF THE STOICS.
[A. General remarks.]
[(1) Field of logic.]
Under the head of Logic, in the Stoic use of the term after the time of
Chrysippus, a number of intellectual enquiries are included which would
not now be considered to belong to philosophy at all. One common
element, however, characterised them all—they all referred to the
formal conditions of thought and expression. Logic was primarily
divided into two parts, sharply marked off from each other, roughly
described as the art of speaking continuously and the art of
conversing. The former is known as Rhetoric, the latter as Dialectic.
[112] To these two was added, as a third part, the doctrine of a
standard of truth, or the theory of knowledge; and, according to some
authorities, [113] a fourth part, consisting of enquiries into the
formation of conceptions. By others, these enquiries were regarded as
the third main division, the theory of knowledge being included under
dialectic. [114] By rhetoric, however, little else was meant than a
collection of artificial rules, of no philosophical value; [115] and
dialectic was in great measure occupied with enquiries referring to
precision of expression. Dialectic is defined to be the science or art
of speaking well; [116] and since speaking well consists in saying what
is becoming and true, [117] dialectic is used to express the knowledge
of what is true or false, or what is neither one nor the other, [118]
correctness of expression being considered inseparable [(2) Words and
thoughts.] from correctness of thought. Words and thoughts are,
according to this view, the very same things regarded under different
aspects. The same idea (λόγος), which is a thought as long as it
resides within the breast, is a word as soon as it comes forth. [119]
Accordingly, dialectic consists of two main divisions, treating
respectively of utterance and the thing uttered, thoughts and words.
[120] Both divisions, again, have several subdivisions, [121] which are
only imperfectly known to us. [122] Under the science of utterance,
which was generally placed before the science of things uttered, [123]
are included, not only instruction as to sounds and speech, but also
the theories of poetry and music, these arts being ranked under the
head of the voice and of sound on purely external considerations. [124]
What is known of the teaching of the Stoics on these subjects,
consisting, as it does, of a mass of definitions, differences, and
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account