Critolaus of Phaselis c. 200 BC – c. 118 BC
Critolaus of Phaselis (c. 200 BC – c. 118 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Peripatetic School, Hellenistic, and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
Critolaus of Phaselis was a Greek Peripatetic philosopher and the head of the Aristotelian school in the second century BC, one of the three philosophers, with Diogenes of Babylon and Carneades, who took part in the famous philosophical embassy to Rome in 156-155 BC. His influence helped to revive Peripatetic interest in ethics and rhetoric, and the surviving fragments of his work show him defending the Aristotelian theory of the goods of soul, body, and external life as a tripartite hierarchy in which the goods of the soul outweigh the others. Cicero and Stobaeus preserve much of what we now know of his thought.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Greek
- Era
- Ancient
- Movements
- Peripatetic School, Hellenistic, Ancient Greek Philosophy
Selected quotes
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Attributed to Critolaus of Phaselis:
“The goods of the soul, the goods of the body, and the goods of fortune are not on a level; the soul outweighs the rest.”
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Attributed to Critolaus of Phaselis:
“Rhetoric without philosophy is the cosmetic art of opinion.”
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Attributed to Critolaus of Phaselis:
“Virtue is the principal good; nature provides the materials, and the wise man arranges them.”
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Attributed to Critolaus of Phaselis:
“Philosophy persuades by showing; rhetoric persuades by adornment alone.”
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Attributed to Critolaus of Phaselis:
“It is shameful for the Romans to subdue cities while remaining strangers to philosophy.”
Frequently asked about Critolaus of Phaselis
- When did Critolaus of Phaselis live?
- Critolaus of Phaselis was born in c. 200 BC and died in c. 118 BC.
- Where was Critolaus of Phaselis from?
- Critolaus of Phaselis was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era.
- What philosophical movements is Critolaus of Phaselis associated with?
- Critolaus of Phaselis was associated with Peripatetic School, Hellenistic, and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
- What was Critolaus of Phaselis known for?
- Critolaus of Phaselis was a Greek Peripatetic philosopher and the head of the Aristotelian school in the second century BC, one of the three philosophers, with Diogenes of Babylon and Carneades, who took part in the famous philosophical embassy to Rome in 156-155 BC.
- How many quotes are attributed to Critolaus of Phaselis?
- There are 5 attributed quotations from Critolaus of Phaselis in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.