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Dio Chrysostom: Discourses 1-11 (Loeb Classical Library No. 257)

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Dio Chrysostom's Discourses 1-11 by the Loeb Classical Library makes excellent reading for anyone interested in the literary, political and philosophical world of nearly 2,000 years ago. Particulary interesting is Discourse #10. On its own it would justify the purchase of this book. In this discourse, Dio impressively has Diogenes of Sinope teaching a man that to own slaves or property is folly. He uses the "Consider the beasts yonder and the birds . . . " argument of Diogenes to the logical conclusion that man can and should be as free and happy as the animals, but that it requires owning no slaves or property. The Gospel writers copied this argument and placed it in the mouth of their main character only to give a decadent, faith-based, nonsensical version of this lesson. Diogenes then goes on to prove to the man that it is folly to ask god to tell you to do anyhting. If you would gain wisdom first, you will know what to do. If you have no wisdom and god makes you write something down, for example, and you don't know how to write or read, you will not even know the meaning of what god is making you do. Dio Chrysostom should be honored for having been a pillar of the lost world of 'worldly' wisdom by which one could arrive at moral behaviour through solid reasoning. Perhaps we can get back to that place and find it not too irrevocably vandalized by the past two millenia. Dio Chrysostom is one pointing the way.