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Single Idea 20771

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 4. Divisions of Philosophy]

Full Idea

Cleanthes says there are six parts: dialectic, rhetoric, ethics, politics, physics, and theology.

Gist of Idea

Six parts: dialectic, rhetoric, ethics, politics, physics, theology

Source

report of Cleanthes (fragments/reports [c.270 BCE]) by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 07.41

A Reaction

This was a minority view, as most stoics agreed with Zeno and Chrysippus that there are three main topics. Nowadays there is little discussion of the 'parts' of philosophy, but the recent revival of meta-philosophy should encourage it.

Book Reference

'The Stoics Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B/Gerson,L.P. [Hackett 2008], p.8