Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.162 — Diogenes Laërtius on Ariston
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.162
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on Ariston
After meeting Polemo, says Diocles of Magnesia, while Zeno was suffering from a protracted illness, he recanted his views. The Stoic doctrine to which he attached most importance was the wise man’s refusal to hold mere opinions. And against this doctrine Persaeus was contending when he induced one of a pair of twins to deposit a certain sum with Ariston and afterwards got the other to reclaim it. Ariston being thus reduced to perplexity was refuted. He was at variance with Arcesilaus; and one day when he saw an abortion in the shape of a bull with a uterus, he said, “Alas, here Arcesilaus has had given into his hand an argument against the evidence of the senses.”
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.162 (on Ariston), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.162
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Book VII, tr. R. D. Hicks (Loeb, 1925). Text: Perseus Digital Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesAnecdotes about Ariston: after meeting a rival teacher he gave up some of his views, though he kept the Stoic idea that the wise form no mere opinions. A trick with twins left him puzzled and refuted, and on seeing a deformed calf he quipped that it handed his sceptic rival a fresh argument against trusting the senses.
Older wording
- “recanted”
- — gave up and renounced his earlier views
- “protracted”
- — long-lasting
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- Learning and progress
Quote cards
The opening line of this passage as an image, with its citation — for sharing or keeping.