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Chrysippus

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Chrysippus

Chrysippus

CC FLickr User Alun Salt
Definition: Chrysippus (c.280–207 B.C.) of Cilicia, succeeded his teacher Cleanthes, who died in 232 B.C., as head of the Stoa, the Stoic school of philosophy in Athens. He was one of the most important Hellenistic philosophers who contributed to psychology and provided alternatives to the metaphysics of Aristotle and Plato. He related happiness, wisdom and virtue. It is thought that Chrysippus had an idea of the truth-function, and was otherwise important in the field of logic.

Chrysippus was a prolific writer, although none of his 700+ books has survived. He applied logic to Stoic positions, making them more sound. Thanks to Diogenes Laertius, we have a partial list of them.

Sources:

  • "Chrysippus" The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy. Simon Blackburn. Oxford University Press, 2008.
  • Julia Annas "Chrysippus" The Oxford Classical Dictionary. Ed. Simon Hornblower and Anthony Spawforth. Oxford University Press 2009.
  • IEP Chrysippus

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