Vitae philosophorum

Diogenes Laertius

Diogenes Laertius. Hicks, R. D., editor. Cambridge, MA.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1925.

  • 1. Ethics dealing with the classification of ethical conceptions.
  • First series:
  • Outline of Ethical Theory, addressed to Theoporos, one book.
  • Ethical Theses, one book.
  • Probable Premisses for Ethical Doctrines, addressed to Philomathes, three books.
  • Definitions of the Good or Virtuous, addressed to Metrodorus, two books.
  • Definitions of the Bad or Vicious, addressed to Metrodorus, two books.
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  • Definitions of the Morally Intermediate, addressed to Metrodorus, two books.
  • Definitions of the Generic Notions [in Ethics], addressed to Metrodorus, seven books.
  • Definitions concerned with other Branches of Science, addressed to Metrodorus, two books.
  • Second series:
  • Of Similes, addressed to Aristocles, three books.
  • Of Definitions, addressed to Metrodorus, seven books.
  • Third series:
  • Of the Objections wrongly urged against the Definitions, addressed to Laodamas, seven books.

  • Probabilities in Support of the Definitions, addressed to Dioscurides, two books.
  • Of Species and Genera, addressed to Gorgippides, two books.
  • Of Classifications, one book.
  • Of Contraries, addressed to Dionysius, two books.
  • Probable Arguments relative to the Classifications, Genera and Species, and the Treatment of Contraries, one book.
  • Fourth series:
  • Of Etymological Matters, addressed to Diocles, seven books.
  • Points of Etymology, addressed to Diocles, four books.
  • Fifth series:
  • Of Proverbs, addressed to Zenodotus, two books.
  • Of Poems, addressed to Philomathes, one book.
  • On the Right Way of reading Poetry, two books.
  • A Reply to Critics, addressed to Diodorus, one book.

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    2. Ethics dealing with the common view and the sciences and virtues thence arising.

  • First series:
  • Against the Touching up of Paintings, addressed to Timonax, one book.
  • How it is we name each Thing and form a Conception of it, one book.
  • Of Conceptions, addressed to Laodamas, two books.
  • Of Opinion or Assumption, addressed to Pythonax, three books.
  • Proofs that the Wise Man will not hold Opinions,[*](Cf. supra, § 162.) one book.
  • Of Apprehension, of Knowledge and of Ignorance,[*](Cf. Cicero, Acad. post. 42 sed inter scientiam et inscientiam comprehensionem illam, quam dixi, collocabat [sc. Zeno]; Sext. Emp. Adv. math. vii. 151.) four books.
  • Of Reason, two books.
  • Of the Use of Reason, addressed to Leptines.
  • Second series:
  • That the Ancients rightly admitted Dialectic as well as Demonstration, addressed to Zeno, two books.

  • Of Dialectic, addressed to Aristocreon, four books.
  • Of the Objections urged against the Dialecticians, three books.
  • Of Rhetoric, addressed to Dioscurides, four books.
  • Third series:
  • Of formed State, or Habit, of Mind, addressed to Cleon, three books.
  • Of Art and the Inartistic, addressed to Aristocreon, four books.
  • Of the Difference between the Virtues, addressed to Diodorus, four books.
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  • Of the Characters of the several Virtues, one book.
  • Of Virtues, addressed to Pollis, two books.

    • 3. Ethics, dealing with things good and evil.

  • First series:
  • Of the Good or Morally Beautiful and Pleasure, addressed to Aristocreon, ten books.
  • Proofs that Pleasure is not the End-in-chief of Action, four books.
  • Proofs that Pleasure is not a Good, four books.
  • Of the Arguments commonly used on Behalf of [Pleasure].