Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.45 — Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.45
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
The study of syllogisms they declare to be of the greatest service, as showing us what is capable of yielding demonstration; and this contributes much to the formation of correct judgements, and their arrangement and retention in memory give a scientific character to our conception of things. An argument is in itself a whole containing premisses and conclusion, and an inference (or syllogism) is an inferential argument composed of these. Demonstration is an argument inferring by means of what is better apprehended something less clearly apprehended. A presentation (or mental impression) is an imprint on the soul: the name having been appropriately borrowed from the imprint made by the seal upon the wax.
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.45 (on the Stoics), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.45
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 notesStudying logical arguments is called very useful because it trains correct judgement and helps knowledge stick in memory. Defines an argument, a syllogism and a demonstration, then explains that a presentation, or mental impression, is an imprint on the soul like a seal pressed in wax.
Older wording
- “syllogism”
- — a logical argument where a conclusion follows from premises
- “premisses”
- — the statements an argument starts from
- “presentation”
- — a mental impression
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- Learning and progress
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