Did Socrates Write? The Evidence of Dion of Prusa (Or. 54.4, 55.12-13) and Epictetus (Diss. 2.1.32)

Authors

FRANEK Juraj

Year of publication 2012
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Graeco-Latina Brunensia
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
Web Digital Library of the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University
Field Philosophy and religion
Keywords historical Socrates; Dion of Prusa; Epictetus; doxography
Description Ancient doxography and modern scholars generally agree that Socrates did not engage in any literary activity throughout his lifetime. However, remarks by Dion of Prusa (Or. 54.4, 55.12–13) and Epictetus (Diss. 2.1.32), two authors writing roughly during the same period and holding Socrates in high esteem, could suggest that Socrates did write. Since the testimonies of Dion and Epictetus are often overlooked by Socratic scholarship, presumably because they represent minority opinion, the purpose of this paper is to analyze these comments and evaluate their relevance for our interpretation of historical Socrates and his activities as an author.
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