The Works of the Emperor Julian, Vol. 2Julian, Emperor of Rome
Philosophy
The Works of the Emperor Julian, Vol. 2
Julian, Emperor of Rome
Speeches, addresses, etc., Greek -- Translations into English
(I must first then say a few words about the subdivisions or instruments
of philosophy. It does not make much difference in which of two ways one
reckons logic, whether with practical or natural philosophy, since it is
equally necessary to both these branches. But I will consider these as
three separate branches and assign to each one three subdivisions. Natural
philosophy consists of theology, mathematics, and thirdly the study of
this world of generation and decay and things that though imperishable are
nevertheless matter, and deals with their essential nature and their
substance in each case. Practical philosophy again consists of ethics in
so far as it deals with the individual man, economics when it deals with
the household as a unit, politics when it deals with the state. Logic,
again, is demonstrative in so far as it deals with the truth of
principles; polemic when it deals with general opinions; eristic when it
deals with opinions that only seem probabilities. These then are the
divisions of philosophy, if I mistake not. Though indeed it would not be
surprising that a mere soldier should be none too exact in these matters
or not have them at his fingers’ ends, seeing that I speak less from book‐
knowledge than from observation and experience. For that matter you can
yourselves bear me witness thereto, if you count up how few days have
elapsed between the lecture that we lately heard and to‐day, and moreover
the number of affairs with which they have been filled for me. But as I
said if I have omitted anything—though I do not think I have—still if
anyone can make my classification more complete he will be “no enemy but
my friend.”(174))
Τούτων δὴ τῶν μερῶν οὔτε τῷ λογικῷ προσήκει τῆς μυθογραφίας οὔτε τοῦ
φυσικοῦ(175) τῷ μαθηματικῷ, μόνον δέ, εἴπερ ἄρα, τοῦ πρακτικοῦ τῷ πρὸς ἕνα
γινομένῳ καὶ τοῦ θεολογικοῦ τῷ τελεστικῷ καὶ μυστικῷ· [C] φιλεῖ γὰρ ἡ
φύσις κρύπτεσθαι, καὶ τὸ ἀποκεκρυμμένον τῆς τῶν θεῶν οὐσίας οὐκ ἀνέχεται
γυμνοῖς εἰς ἀκαθάρτους ἀκοὰς ῥίπτεσθαι ῥήμασιν. ὅπερ δὲ δὴ τῶν χαρακτήρων
ἡ ἀπόρρητος φύσις ὠφελεῖν πέφυκε καὶ ἀγνοουμένη· θεραπεύει γοῦν οὐ ψυχὰς
μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ σώματα, καὶ θεῶν ποιεῖ παρουσίας· τοῦτ᾽ οἶμαι πολλάκις
γίγνεσθαι καὶ διὰ τῶν μύθων, [D] ὅταν εἰς τὰς τῶν πολλῶν ἀκοὰς οὐ
δυναμένας τὰ θεῖα καθαρῶς δέξασθαι δι᾽ αἰνιγμάτων αὐτοῖς μετὰ τῆς μύθων
σκηνοποιίας ἐγχέηται.
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