Diogenes Laertius

Diogenes Laërtius was a biographer of ancient Greek philosophers who lived during the early third century CE. Though little is known about his personal life, his seminal work, "The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers," remains a cornerstone of classical scholarship. This extensive compilation provides invaluable insights into the lives, teachings, and anecdotes of notable philosophers from the pre-Socratic era through to the Hellenistic period.Diogenes Laërtius's work is distinguished by...See more

Diogenes Laërtius was a biographer of ancient Greek philosophers who lived during the early third century CE. Though little is known about his personal life, his seminal work, "The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers," remains a cornerstone of classical scholarship. This extensive compilation provides invaluable insights into the lives, teachings, and anecdotes of notable philosophers from the pre-Socratic era through to the Hellenistic period.Diogenes Laërtius's work is distinguished by its blend of biographical detail and philosophical discourse, offering readers a rich tapestry of historical context and intellectual thought. His accounts cover a wide range of philosophers, including Thales, Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as Stoic and Epicurean thinkers. The work is celebrated for preserving many fragments and quotations of philosophers whose original works have been lost to history. See less