2. The MEGARIAN or DIALECTICIAN, was a
disciple of Diodorus Cronus, and a friend of Zenon, though older than the latter, if the
reading in Diogenes Läertins (7.16) is correct. In his Menexenus he mentioned the five
daughters of his teacher (Clem. Alex. Strom. iv. p. 528a. ed. Potter),
and disputed with him respecting the idea of the possible, and the criteria of the truth of
hypothetical propositions. With reference to the first point Philon approximated to Aristotle,
as he recognized that not only what is, or will be, is possible (as Diodorns maintained), but
also what is in itself Nat. Qual. 1.14. Compare on the
whole question J. Harris, in Upton's Arriani Dissertat. Epict. 2.19, ap.
Schweighäser, vol. ii. p. 515, &c.) Diodorus had allowed the validity of hypothetical
propositions only when the antecedent clause could never lead to an untrue conclusion, whereas
Philon regarded those only as false which with a correct antecedent had an incorrect
conclusion (Sext. Empir. ad v. Math. 8.113, &c. Hypotyp. 2.110, comp.de
Fato, 6). Both accordingly had sought for criteria for correct sequence in the members
of hypothetical propositions, and each of them in a manner corresponding to what he maintained
respecting the idea of the possible. Chrysippus attacked the assumption of each of them.
The Philon who is spoken of as an Athenian and a disciple of Pyrrhon, though ridiculed by
Timon as a sophist, can hardly be different from Philon the dialectician (Jov. 1)
speaks of Philon the dialectician and the author of the Menexenus, as the instructor of
Carneades, in contradiction to chronology, perhaps in order to indicate the sceptical
direction of his doctrines.