Zenon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 150 BC |
| Died | c. 75 BC prob.Athens |
| Era | Hellenistic philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Epicureanism |
Main interests | Ethics,mathematics |
Zeno of Sidon (Ancient Greek:Ζήνων ὁ Σιδώνιος; c. 150 – c. 75 BC[1]) was aGreekEpicurean philosopher[2] from theSeleucid city ofSidon. His writings have not survived, but there are some epitomes of his lectures preserved among the writings of his pupilPhilodemus.
Zeno was born in the city ofSidon. He was a contemporary ofCicero, who heard him when atAthens.[3][4]
He was sometimes termed the "leading Epicurean." (Latin:Coryphaeus Epicureorum)[3]Cicero states that Zeno was contemptuous of other philosophers, and even calledSocrates "theAttic Buffoon (scurram Atticum)."[5] He was a disciple ofApollodorus,[6] and Cicero andDiogenes Laërtius both describe him as an accurate and polished thinker.[7][3][8]
Zeno held that happiness is not merely dependent upon present enjoyment and prosperity, but also on a reasonable expectation of their continuance and appreciation.[7][4]
Zeno's writings have not survived, but among the charredpapyrus remains at theVilla of the Papyri atHerculaneum, there is anEpitome of Conduct and Character from the Lectures of Zeno written by his pupilPhilodemus. It contains the essaysOn Frank Criticism[9] andOn Anger.[10]
Zeno also studied the philosophy ofmathematics based on the derivation of all knowledge from experience. He criticizedEuclid, seeking to show that deductions from the fundamental principles (Koinē Greek:ἀρχαί) of geometry cannot, on their own, be proved:
[Some] admit the principles but deny that the propositions coming after the principles can be demonstrated unless they grant something that is not contained in the principles. This method of controversy was followed by Zeno of Sidon, who belonged to the school ofEpicurus, and against whomPosidonius has written a whole book.[11]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Zeno of Sidon".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 972. Laërtius, Diogenes (1925)."The Stoics: Zeno" .Lives of the Eminent Philosophers. Vol. 2:7. Translated byHicks, Robert Drew (Two volume ed.). Loeb Classical Library. § 35. Laërtius, Diogenes (1925b)."Epicurus" .Lives of the Eminent Philosophers. Vol. 2:10. Translated byHicks, Robert Drew (Two volume ed.). Loeb Classical Library. § 26.
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