Aetius, Stoic Physics, and Zeno

Q: What are the unique contributions of Aetius to Stoic physics?

Aetius provides unique insights on Stoic embryology and genetics, particularly in book four where he details aspects not found elsewhere. His description of Stoic principles lacks Diogenes Laertius's depth yet offers a concise framework appealing to Hellenistic readers.

Q: How does Aetius's methodology differ from other Stoic doxographers?

Aetius shows selectivity in presenting Stoic doctrines, often attributing ideas generically rather than to individual Stoic philosophers. His concise entries and detailed reports on certain topics like fate highlight a unique balance between brevity and depth.

Q: What is the significance of Aetius's reports on Stoic psychology?

The paper reveals that Aetius's accounts of Stoic psychology are terminologically consistent, showing coherent development over time. His comments on sensory modalities reflect Chrysippus's distinctions that are critical for understanding Stoic thought.

Q: In which areas does Aetius prioritize information on Stoicism?

Aetius emphasizes the origin of ideas about divinity and fate over detailed accounts of Stoic cosmology, presenting summaries rather than exhaustive analyses. This illustrates his alignment with reader interests during the Hellenistic period, suggesting topics of theological and philosophical significance.

Q: How does Aetius's work interact with the tradition of Stoic cosmology?

Aetius appears to draw from a specific tradition linked to Zeno’s On the Universe, synthesizing ideas circulated by later Stoics like Chrysippus. By comparing his entries with Diogenes Laertius, the analysis indicates a shared foundational framework influencing Stoic cosmological discussions.

Anthony Long

doi:10.1163/978900436!461_013

Outline

Aetius, Stoic Physics, and Zeno

Anthony Long

2018, Aetiana IV

https://doi.org/10.1163/978900436!461_013

visibility

…

description

11 pages

link

1 file

Abstract

Book 2 xo'. I1Epl EXAEhpEW~ ~AlOU (P,S) § 1 ecxA.~~ np6:rro~ E(jll') EXAEl7tElV ' rOV ~AlOV ~~ O"EA~Vl')~ CXUTOV tmo-rpE)(OUO"l')~ xcx-r!X x&SE-rov, oilO"l')~ (jlU<rEl yEwoou~• ~AE7tEa9cxt oE:-rou-ro xcx-romptxw~ uno-rt9Ef.lEVctJ-rei> o(<rxctJ. (PI, Ss) § oi IIu9cxy6pEtot 'Ef.L7tEooxA.~~ (6f.Lotw~). (PI, S4,6) § 'Avcx~lf.lCXVOpO~ ' rOU O"' rOf.llOU ~~ ' rOU nupo~ OlEJ<:7tVO~~ cmoxAElOf.lEVOU. (P2, S2) § 'Hp&xA.Et-ro~ xcx-r!X TI)v-roD <rXCX(jlOEtoou~ a-rpo(jl~V, wa-rE-ro f.LEV xo'iA.ov &vw ytvEa9cxt-ro oE: xup-rov x&-rw npo~ TI)v ~f.lETEpcxv lhjHv. (P3, S3) § EEVO(jlcXVI')~ xcx-r!X a~E<rtv• ltnpov oE: n&A.tv npo~-rcx'i~ civcx-roA.cx'i~ ytvEa9cxt• ncxpta-r6p1')XE oE: xcxl EJ<:AEllplV ~AlOU E(jl' OAOV f.l~VCX xcxl 7tcXAlV EXAEllplV EV'rEA~, WO"' rE TI)v ~f.lEpcxv vux-rcx (jlCXV~VCXl. (P 4, SI) § "Evtot nuxvwf.Lcx-rwv ciop&-rw~ E:nEpXOf.LEvwv-rei> ot<rXctJ VE(jlWV. (Ps) § 'Ap(a-rcxpxo~-rov ~A.tov Y<r' rl')<rl f.lET!X-rwv cinA.cxvwv, TI)v oE: ~v xtvE'i nEpl-rov ~A.tcxxov xuxA.ov xcxl xcx-r!X-r!X~ TCXU'rl')~ E:yxA.t<rEl~ axt&<Ea9cxt. (P6, S7) § EEVO(jlcXVI')~ 7tOMOU~ ElVCXl ~AlOU~ xcxi <rEA~VCX~ XCXTCt-r!X XAlf.lCXTCX ~~ ~~ xcxi cX7tOTOf.lCt~ xcxl <wvcx~• xcx-r& ' rlVCX OE xcxtpov Ef.l1tl7t'rElV ' rOV o(axov d~ ' rlVCX cX7tO'rOf.l~V ~~ ~~ OUJ<: o!J<:OUf.lEVI')V U(jl' ~f.lWV, xcxl oihw~ W0"7tEp J<:EVEf.l~CX'rOUV'rCX EJ<:AElljHV U7tO(jlCXlVElV. 6 o' cxu-ro~-rov ~A.tov El~ &nEtpov f.LEV npotEVCXl, ooxE'iv oE: xuxA.E'iaScxt ot!X TI)v cin6a-rcxatv. (P7, S8) rrom .P.-eh'lllt&a IV? eJ~.;: Mtin.S feld ani']). Rttlt/a (B~r;jl) Le)Ji!I'L ~ 0 i~) CHAPTER 11

Key takeaways
AI

Aetius serves as a crucial source for Stoic physics, offering organized testimonies often cited by later philosophers.
His doxography emphasizes Stoic doctrines on fate and gods, while being selective and concise on cosmology.
Aetius's reports align closely with Zeno's teachings, particularly in the realm of cosmology and theology.
Cicero's writings corroborate the terminology and doctrines attributed to Zeno, enhancing our understanding of Stoic thought.
Aetius's brevity contrasts with Arius's detailed accounts, highlighting differing methodologies in Stoic doxography.

References (20)

Algra, K. ( 2002 ), 'Zeno of Citium and Stoic cosmology: some notes and two case studies', in Scaltsas and Mason 2002,155-185.
Bees, R. ( 2004 ), Die Oikeiosislehre der Stoa, Wiirzburg.
Diels, H., ed. ( 1879 ), Doxographi Graeci, Berlin (abridged DG).
Gourinat,J.-B. (2009), 'The Stoics on matter and prime matter: "corporealism" and the imprint of Plato's Timaeus' in Salles 2009, 46-71.
Hahm, D. (1977), The Origins ofZeno's Cosmology, Columbus.
Kahn, C.H. ( 1979 ), The Art and Thought of Heraclitus, Cambridge.
Kidd, I. G. ( 2002 ), 'Zeno's oral teaching and the stimulating uncertainty of his doctrines', in Scaltsas and Mason 2002, 351-374.
Long, A.A. and Sedley, D.N. (1987 ), The Hellenistic Philosophers, Cambridge.
Long, A. G. ( 2013), Plato and the Stoics, Cambridge.
Mansfeld, ].
and Runia, D.T. (2009), Aetiana: The Method and Intellectual Context of a Doxographer. Volume II: Aetius' Compendium, 2 parts, Leiden.
38 The parallel passages, collected at SVF 1.128, are from Theodoret, Plutarch, Galen, and Diogenes Laertius.
Mansfeld, ]. (2015), 'Heraclitus on soul and super-soul, with an afterthought on the afterlife', Rhizomata 3 (1), 62-93.
Montaresi, F., (2010 ), Lucretius and his sources, Berlin.
Obbink, D., ed. (1996), Philodemus On Piety, Oxford.
Pearson, A.C., ed. (1892), The Fragments ofZeno and Cleanthes, London.
Reydams-Schils, G. (2013), 'The Academy, the Stoics and Cicero on Plato's Timaeus', in A. G. Long 2013, 29-58.
Salles, R., ed. (2oog), God and Cosmos in Stoicism., Oxford.
Scaltsas, D., and Mason, A., eds. (2002), The Philosophy ofZeno, Larnaca.
Siegert, F. (1g88), Philon von Alexandrien, Uber die Gottesbezeichnung 'wohltiitig ver- zehrendes Feuer' (De Deo ): Rilckilbersetzung des Fragments aus dem Armenischen, deutsche Ubersetzung und Kommentar, Tiibingen.

Aetius, Stoic Physics, and Zeno

Sign up for access to the world's latest research

Abstract

Key takeawaysAI

Related papers

References (20)

Related papers

Key takeaways
AI