Diogenes Laërtius · fl. 3rd century CE
Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.68 — Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
Translation by R. D. Hicks (1925)
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.68
Reported speech · Diogenes Laërtius on the Stoics
There is also, differing from a proposition or judgement, what may be called a timid suggestion, the expression of which leaves one at a loss, e.g. Can it be that pain and life are in some sort akin? Interrogations, inquiries and the like are neither true nor false, whereas judgements (or propositions) are always either true or false. The followers of Chrysippus, Archedemus, Athenodorus, Antipater and Crinis divide propositions into simple and not simple. Simple are those that consist of one or more propositions which are not ambiguous, as “It is day.” Not simple are those that consist of one or more ambiguous propositions.
Cite this passage
Diogenes Laërtius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers 7.68 (on the Stoics), tr. R. D. Hicks (1925)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/lives-of-the-stoics/7.68
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 notesAdds the timid suggestion, an uncertain remark such as a question about whether pain and life might be related, and stresses that questions and inquiries are neither true nor false while statements always are. Begins dividing statements into simple and not simple. Logic terminology.
Older wording
- “timid suggestion”
- — a hesitant remark that is not a clear claim
- “propositions”
- — statements that are either true or false
- “ambiguous”
- — open to more than one meaning
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- Speech and silence
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