Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.66 — Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.66
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
There is a difference between judgement, interrogation, and inquiry, as also between imperative, adjurative, optative, hypothetical, vocative, whether that to which these terms are applied be a thing or a judgement. For a judgement is that which, when we set it forth in speech, becomes an assertion, and is either false or true: an interrogation is a thing complete in itself like a judgement but demanding an answer, e.g. “Is it day?” and this is so far neither true nor false. Thus “It is day” is a judgement; “Is it day?” an interrogation. An inquiry is something to which we cannot reply by signs, as you can nod Yes to an interrogation; but you must express the answer in words, “He lives in this or that place.”
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.66 (on the Stoics), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.66
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 notesDistinguishes a statement, which is true or false, from a question and an inquiry, which are neither, and lists kinds of utterance such as commands and wishes. Logic terminology with no practical advice.
Older wording
- “interrogation”
- — a question that can be answered with yes or no
- “adjurative”
- — an utterance that solemnly commands or appeals
- “optative”
- — an utterance that expresses a wish
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- Speech and silence
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