Diogenes Laërtius facts for kids
Diogenes Laërtius was an important historian from ancient times. He is famous for writing a huge book about the lives and ideas of many Greek philosophers. This book was so big it had ten parts! We don't know much about Diogenes Laërtius himself, like exactly when he was born or died.
Most experts think he lived around the 3rd century AD. This was a long time ago, about 1,700 to 1,800 years ago. His book helps us understand what ancient thinkers believed and how they lived.
Contents
Who Was Diogenes Laërtius?
Diogenes Laërtius was a writer who collected stories and teachings from many famous philosophers. Think of him like a super-smart detective who gathered information about the greatest minds of his time and before. He wasn't just writing about his own ideas; he was recording the ideas of others.
A Mystery Man
It's a bit of a mystery! We don't have many records about Diogenes Laërtius's own life. We don't know where he was born or much about his family. This is common for many writers from ancient times. We know him mostly through the amazing book he left behind.
When Did He Live?
Historians believe Diogenes Laërtius lived in the 3rd century AD. To figure this out, they look at clues in his writing. For example, the last philosopher he wrote about was a student of Sextus Empiricus, who lived in the 2nd century AD. This helps us place Diogenes Laërtius's time period.
His Famous Book: Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers
Diogenes Laërtius's most important work is called Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers. This book is like a giant encyclopedia of ancient Greek thinkers. It's one of the best sources we have today for learning about these philosophers.
What's Inside the Book?
His book covers many different schools of thought and famous philosophers. It includes:
- Stories about their lives
- Their main ideas and teachings
- Lists of their writings
- Sometimes, funny or interesting quotes they said
He wrote about philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, and many others. Without his book, we might not know as much about these important figures.
Why Is His Book Important?
Even though Diogenes Laërtius didn't write about every philosopher, his book is super valuable. It gives us a peek into the world of ancient Greek philosophy. It helps us understand how people thought about life, knowledge, and the universe thousands of years ago.
What His Book Doesn't Cover
Interestingly, Diogenes Laërtius didn't write much about Roman philosophers. He also didn't talk a lot about a popular philosophy at the time called Middle Platonism. This shows us that even big history books can't cover absolutely everything!
Images for kids
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17th-century engraving
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Title page of an edition in Greek and Latin, 1594
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The Italian Renaissance scholar, painter, philosopher, and architect Leon Battista Alberti (1404–1472) modeled his own autobiography on Diogenes Laërtius's Life of Thales.
