The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

CHAP. I.

The Country and Parents of Thales.

GReat wits, which have been happy in benefi∣ting Posterity by their excellent inventions, have not alwaies had the fortune to enjoy the just reward, their glory being intercepted of∣tentimes by some later disguise of alteration or addition. It were therefore gratitude in us, who find our selves instructed by the Anti∣ents, to vindicate the memory of our masters by enquiring dili∣gently the Authors of those labours whereof wee reap the Har∣vest. This kind of injury hath happened very considerably to THALES the wise man of Miletus, who first introduc'd Na∣turall and Mathematicall Learning into Greece, from whence it derived into us; but the honour of so noble a design, the ambiti∣ous opposition of some, the industry of others hath so ob∣scur'd that there is little of the reputation left to the deserving Author. I have therefore esteemed it worth my pains, to digest what I could collect or observe of a person, to whom all lovers of Learning are so much oblig'd.

The Original of Thales is very obscurely delivered. Some con∣ceive he was a Phoenician by birth, whose opinion seeming to be strongly founded upon Laertius, and the Authorities by him alledged, it is necessary that we begin with a disquisition upon his words, which are, as commonly rendred, these.

Now Thales was born, as Herodotus, Duris and Democritus affirm, his Father being Examius, his Mother Cleobulina, of the Thelidae, who were Phoenicians, the most illustrious of all from Cad∣mus and Agenor, as Plato also saith] The Testimony of Hero∣dotus, though* 1.1 Higynus and * Suidas seem to understand it ac∣cording to the common errour, as if hee were born in Phoenicia, expressely confirmes the contrary, being thus; Thales a Milesian, a farre off by descent a Phoenician; Whence we may gather, that the other two Authorities of Duris and Democritus imported little more, or at least nothing to a contrary sense. So likewise that of Leander, which is by * Clemens Alexandrinus cited jointly with Herodotus, to prove him of a Phoenician extract.

He was made free of Miletus when he went with Neleus who was ba∣nish'd out of Phoenicia] The learned* 1.2 Casaubon to reconcile this

story with that of Neleus, who was not banish'd out of Phoenicia, when he built, Miletus for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as if Thales being banish'd out of Phoenicia had gone with Neleus to Miletus; which alteration begetteth a very strange Anacronism, for this Thales was above four hundred years later then that Neleus. Therefore if Laertius meant the same Neleus, either he was strangely mistaken, or his text is cor∣rupt, and ought to be understood of the Ancestors of Thales, to which sense it may bee reduc'd with little alteration, thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as if they being Phoenicians, went into (arta, and became Citizen•• of Miletus, at what time Neleus Son of Codrus, being put beside the Kingdom of Athens by his younger brother Me••on, lead th••ther the Ionian Colonies, whereof Miletus (which he built) was the chief City. Of this Colony see Herodotus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Aelian.

But as most say he was born there, at Miletus, and of noble race] So they render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 but in oposition to the first opinion which onely mentions his Family, not Country, it may per∣haps be understood here in the same relation: Some (saith he) think, he was of a Phoenician extract, of those who were incor∣porated at Miletus; others that he was of a Grecian Family, and that noble. Of this latter opinion is* 1.3 Plutarch who reproves Herodotus for making Thales descended afar off from a Barbarian stock, and* 1.4 Hermtppus, who ascribes that saying to him, that he thanked the Gods he was a Grecian, not a Barbarian.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Astronom. Na∣tione fuit Phoe∣nix, ut Herodo∣tus Milesius di∣cit. VVhich doubtlesse is corrupt (for what Herodo∣tus is that?) and to be re∣stored to this effect, Natione fuit Phoenix ut Herodotus, Mi∣lesius ut alij dicunt.
• * 1.2

  In Voce Thales.
• * 1.3

  De Herod. ••nalign.
• * 1.4

  Laert. vit. Thal.