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

THEODORVS.

CHAP. I.

His Life.

a 1.1 THEODORUS heard Anniceris, Dionysius the Logician,b 1.2 Zeno the Cittiean, and Pyrrho the Ephectick. He was called the Atheist, because c 1.3 he held there was no God, & wrote a treatise (Suidas saith many) wherein he endeavoured to refell all arguments to the contrary, out of of which Epicurus borrow'd much. Afterwards he was abusively called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, upon occasion of a dispute with Stil∣po to this effect, Do you believe saith Stilpo, you are whatsoever you affirm your self to be? Theodorus granting; then continues Stilpo, if you should say you were a God, were you so? To which Theodorus assent∣ing, Stilpo reply'd; Then impious man you are a Bird, or any thing else by the same reason.

He was ejected out of Cyrene by the Citizens, whereupon hee said pleasantly; You do not well Cyreneans to thrust me out of Lybia into Greece. Thence he went to Athens, where he should have been cited to the Court of Areopagus, and lost his life, but that he was freed by Demetrius Phalereus. Being likewise banished thence, he went to Ptolomy the Son of Lagus, with whom he li∣ved, and was by him sent on Embassy to Lysimachus, to whom speaking Atheistically; Lysimachus said, Are not you that Theodo∣rus that was banished Athens, he answered, it is true, the Athenians when they could bear me no longer, as Semele Bacchus, cast me out. Lysimachus reply'd, see that you come no more to me; No answered he, unless Ptolomy send me. My••hro Son of Ly∣simachus being present, said, you seem not only ignorant of the Gods but of Kings. How saith he, am I ignorant of the Gods, who believe you an Enemy to them? Lysimachus threatned them with Death;d 1.4 you glory ••aith he in a great matter, a Cantharides can do as much. Or as Stobaeus, I knew not that you had not the power of a King but of poisor. Hereat incensed, he commanded he should be crucified; Threate•• saith he, those things I pray to your purple Nobles; it is all o••e so The∣odorus whether he rot above or under ground.

Finally he went to Cyrene, and lived with Marius in much re∣pute, in that City out of which he was first ejected.

Disputing wit•• Euryclides a Priest, he asked, what persons those were who de••ile mysteries: Euryclides answered, Those who communicate them to persons not initiated. Then, replyed he, you do impiously, in declaring them to such.

What o••••ers ascribe to Aristipp••s and Diogene•• s••ime •• ••ttri••••te to Theodorus and Metrocleus, a Cynick, who saying, You would not want Disciples if you washed Herbs: Theodorus an••wer'd, Neither would you wash Herbs, if you knew how to converse with Men.

He said of Hipparchia the Wife of Crates; This is she who hath gi∣ven over the Shuttle to put on a Cloak.

CHAP. II.

His Philosophy.

HE taught all manner of Learning, and instituted a Sect, called Theodorean.a 1.5 He asserted Indifference, that there is no difference of things.

b 1.6 That our end, or chiefe good and greatest ill, are joy and sorrow; one consisting in prudence, the other inimprudence.

That prudence and justice are good things, the contrary habits ill, the mean, pleasure and grief.

He took away Friendship, because it is neither in fooles nor wise-men; those being uncapable to make use of it, the thing it selfe vanisheth; these not needing it, as being sufficient to themselves.

That it is reasonable that a wise man expose not himselfe to danger for his Country; Wisdome ought not to be lost for the preservation of fooles.

That the World is our Country.

That a man upon occasion may commit theft, adultery, and sacriledge, there being nothing in these naturally evill, if that opinion were taken away which is built upon the agreement of fooles.

That a wise man may publi••kly without shame 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

He used such inductions as these: Is not a woman that is skilfull in Grammar, prositable in that respect as a Grammarian? Yea; is not the same of a youth? Yes. Is not a beautifull woman then profitable, as being handsome? Yes: Then she who makes right use of it doth not amisse. In these kinds of Questions he was very subtle.

CHAP. III.

His death, writings, &c.

a 1.7 AMphicrates saith, that he was condemned by the Law for Atheism, and drunk Hemlock.

He wrot, besides that which appertained to his sect, many o∣ther things.

Laertius reckons twenty of this name: The first a Samian, son of Rhaecus, who advised to lay the foundation of the Temple at Ephesus upon Embers: For, the place being wet, he said, that Coales, when they forsake the nature of Wood, acquire a soli∣dity not to be violated by moysture.

The second of Cyrene, a Geometrician, whose Disciple Plato was.

The third this Philosopher.

The fourth writ of exercising the voice, a famous Book.

The fifth writ of Law-givers, beginning with Terpander.

The sixth a Stoick.

The seventh writ the Roman History.

The eight, a Syracusian, writ Tacticks.

The ninth a Byzantine, a Sophist,b 1.8 eminent for civill Pleas.

The tenth of the same Country, mention'd by Aristotle in his Epitome of Oratours.

The eleventh of Thebes, a Statuary.

The twelfth a painter, mention'd by Polemon.

The thirteenth of Athens, a Painter, of whom writes Menodotus.

The fourteenth of Ephesus, a painter, of whom Theophanes in his treatise of painting.

The fifteenth a Poet, who wrote Epigrams.

The sixtee••th wrot of Poets.

The seventeenth a Physician, Disciple to Athenaeus.

The eighteenth of Chios, a Stoick.

The ninteenth of Miletus, a Stoick.

The twentieth, a Tragick Poet.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Laer••.
• b 1.2

  Suid.
• c 1.3

  ••lut. plac. Phil. 17. Cic∣de nat. deor. 1.
• d 1.4

  Sen de tranq. anim. 6. Cic. Iuse. qu. 1. ••lut. an vitios. ad infel. suff.
• a 1.5

  Suid. in So∣crate.
• b 1.6

  Laert.
• a 1.7

  Laert.
• b 1.8

  Suid.