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

STILPO.

CHAP. I.

Stilpo his life.

a 1.1 STILPO was of Megara in Hellas; he lived in time of the first Ptolomy: Of the Masters which he heard are reckoned Euclid the founder of this School: but, this agrees not with his time, as was before observed.

Some followers of Euclid,

Thrasymachus of Corinth, friend to Ichthyas: So Heraclides atte∣steth.

b 1.2 Diogenes the Cynick.

Pasicles, a Theban, who heard Crates the Cynick, his own Brother.

Dioclides of Megara.

Cicero saith; he was very acute, much approved by those times: his friends (saith he) writ, he was much inclined to wine and women, yet relate not this in his dispraise; but, rather in his commendations, that he by Learning so subdued and represt his vicious nature, that none ever saw him drunk, none ever dis∣covered any lasciviousnesse in him. Plutarch magnifies his height of courage, mixed with meeknesse and temperance.

He was much addicted to civill affairs. Besides his Wife, he kept company with Nicareta, a Curtezan: He had a daughter of ill fame, whom Simmias, a Syracusian, his intimate friend, mar∣ried; she living incontinently, one told Stilpo she was a disho∣nour to him: No more, saith he, then I am an honour to her.

Ptolemeus Soter much esteemed him, and when he took possessi∣on of Megara by conquest, gave him mony, and invited him along with him to Aegypt: Of the mony he took a little, but absolutely refused the journey: Going to Aegina stayed there, till Ptolomies returne. Dem••trius son of Antigonus, upon the taking of Megara, gave order, that his house might be preserved, and whatsoever belong'd to him restored; and bidding him give them an inventory of such things as he had lost, he said, that he had lost nothing that belonged to him, for none had taken away his learning; his lear∣ning and knowledge were both left.

With Demetrius he disputed of Humanity so efficaciously, that he became a studious Auditor of him.

Concerning Minerva's Statue, carved by Phidias, he asked a man, whether Minerva Daughter of Iove were a God? He af∣firmed she was: But this, saith he, is not of Iove, but of Phidias;

to which the other assented: Then, saith he, she is not a God. Hereupon being cited to the Court of Areopagus, he denyed it not, but justified it, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 she was not a God, but a Goddesse. But, the Areopagites nothing satisfied with this evasion, orde∣red that he should depart the City. Hereupon Theodorus sirnamed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, said in derision, How came Stilpo to know this, did he put a∣side her vail, and look upon her breast? Theodorus was bold of speech; but, Stilpo reserved, in so much, as being demanded by Crates, whether the Gods delighted in bent knees and prayers: Thou fool, saith he, do not question me in publick, but when we are alone together.

He was sincere and plain, void of all artifice: Crates the Cynick not answering him, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, I knew, saith he, you would speak any thing rather then that which is decent.

Crates in propounding a question delivered a fig to him, which he took and eat: Crates presently cryed out, that he had lost his fig: Yes, saith he, and your question also, of which that was in earnest.

Seeing Crates halfe frozen in cold weather, Crates, saith he, me thinks you want 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (which one way implies a new gar∣ment, another way both a garment and wit) Crates ashamed, answe∣red thus;

Stilpo at Megara I saw opprest, Where vast Typhocus lies with weight opprest. To hear him wrangle, many Schollers came; Fair truth to chace away was all their aime.

At Athens he wrought so much upon the people, that they would run out of their shops to see him: They wonder at thee Stilpo (said one to him) as a monster: No, saith he, but as a true man.

As he was speaking with Crates, in the midst of their discourse he went away to buy fish; Crates pursued him, crying out, that he gave over the discourse: No, saith he, I carry along the dis∣course with me; but, I leave you, the discourse will stay, the fish must be bought.

Being asked,* 1.3 what is harder then a stone, he answered, a fool.

CHAP. II.

His Philosophy.

a 1.4 HE was Master of the Megarick School, excellent in Eristick Disputes, by his subtle Tenents and Discourses, beautifying himselfe, his Country and friends.

He took away all Species (Universalls) affirming, that he who

saith, a man, denotes not any man, the Terme being not proper to this or that person, for why to one rather then to another, there∣fore not to this; and again, that which we see is not an Herbe, for an Herb was many years ago, Therefore this was not an Herbe.

b 1.5 He likewise denyed one thing to be praedicated of another argu∣ing thus; if running be praedicated of an Horse, the subject is not the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the praedicate; the definition of man is one thing, that o•• good another, so an horse is a di••••ering thing from running, for upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉, we give severall Definitions of each; for if a man, and good, or a horse, and run∣ing were the same, how could good be praedicated of Food or Physick, and running of a horse, which are things so different. Thus he admitted no conjunction with the subject, in things which are in a subject, or praedicated of a subject, but conceived that both these, unlesse they be the very same with the subject, cannot be praedicated of it, even not as an Accident. This, though it were one of those little sayings which Stilpo sportively used to cast out amongst the So∣phisters, Colotes the Epicurean opposed so eagerly, that he fra∣med a large discourse against Stilpo, grounded only upon this assertion, (which yet he neither re••elled nor resolved) affirming that by holding one thing is not praedicated of another, he takes away good life; But that Stilpo (saith Plutarch) was offended only at some words, and opposed the manner of speaking, but took not away the course of life, or abolished things, is most evident.

c 1.6 He asserted the chief good to be a mind not subject to passion.

CHAP. III.

His Disciples.

a 1.7 He so far exceeded others in fluent discourse and learning, that he converted almost all Greece to the Megarick Sect, Philippus of Megara saith, he drew Metrodorus sirnamed the Theoretick, and Timagoras the Gelo∣an from Theophrastus.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Simmias from Aristotle the Cyrenaean.

Of Dialecticks, Paeonius, from Aristides.

Diphilus Son of Euphantus, and Myrmex Son of Exenaetus coming to dispute against him, became both followers of him: Thus far Philipp••s: he likewise attracted

Phaesidemus the Peripatetick, excellent in Natural Philosophy.

Alcimus, the most eminent Oratour at that time in Greece.

Ze••o the Phaenician, an Epicurean Philosopher.

Crates, and others; in a word, whomsoever he would himself.

Heraclides saith, that Zeno the Citican founder of the Stoicall Sect was his Disciple.

CHAP. IV.

His Death, Writings.

HErmippus affirmeth that he died of age; but drank a draught of wine to hasten his end.

Suidas saith, he wrote 20. Dialogues; Laertius but nine; and those not very efficacious; their Titles these

• Moschus,
• Aristippus or Callias,
• Ptolemaeus,
• Chaerecrates,
• Mitrocles,
• Anaximenes,
• Epigenes,
• To his Daughter,
• Aristotle,

He had a Son named Dryso, a Philosopher also.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Laert.
• b 1.2

  Laert. vi••. Diogenis.
• * 1.3

  Stob.
• a 1.4

  Laert.
• b 1.5

  Plut.
• c 1.6

  Senec. Epist. 9
• a 1.7

  Laert.