Stoic Natural Philosophy (Physics and Cosmology)

Bibliographic Data

ID23182659
AuthorsMichael White (0000-0001-7508-7882, University of Toronto, corresponding author), Michael J White (0000-0002-0735-8668)
Year2003
Pages124-152
Publication date2003-05-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeCHAPTER
VenueCambridge Companion to the Stoics (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherCambridge University Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1017/ccol052177005x.006
OpenAlexW2485770702
ISBN9780521770057
LanguageEN
Citations received16

According to Diogenes Laertius, most of the Stoics - beginning with Zeno of Citium - divided philosophical doctrine into three parts: one physical, one ethical, and one logical. Diogenes also reports three homely similes concerning the relation among these parts of philosophy: (1) philosophy is like an animal, with logic corresponding to the bones and sinews, ethics to the more fleshy parts, and physics to the soul; (2) philosophy is like an egg, with logic corresponding to 'the outside' (shell), ethics to 'what is in between' (the white), and physics to 'the innermost part' (yolk); and (3) philosophy is like a productive field, with logic corresponding to the enclosing fence, ethics to the crop, and physics to the earth or trees.

Biology · Doctrine · Epistemology · Natural (archaeology) · Natural Philosophy · Nature · Philosophy of physics · Soul · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classical Philosophy and Thought · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · Philosophy

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