Diogenes of Babylonia (Philosopher)
By Mustafa Dhia [Jul 18, 09]
Diogenes was allegedly born around 240 B.C. and passed away around 152 B.C.[1] (Tieleman, 1991). He was born in Seleucia close to the Tigris river (in modern Iraq), but back in his lifetime, the region was considered the land of Babylonia.
This unique scholar was a philosopher that is mostly quoted by other philosophers. [2] (Hicks, 1925). He was head of the Stoic school in Athens, Greece, as a successor of Zeno.[5]
He was one of three philosophers sent to Rome in 155 BC. [3] Specifically he went with Carneades the Academic and Critolaus the Peripatetic, to appeal a fine of one hundred talents imposed on Athens in 155 BC (reason not elucidated yet). [5]
Throughout the internet and books about Diogenes, they will claim that he is a Greek, which is untrue considering that he was born in Mesopotamia, eighteen miles south of modern Baghdad in the Babylonian city of Seleucia. He had lived in Greece, but was not born there.
There are many others with the name of Diogenes, and were philosophers, in close time eras. The easiest to confuse with is Diogenes of Seleucia who was an Epicurean philosopher, who was also a native of Seleucia. More information at Link. [4]
Some of his quotes:
“The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.”
“The reason we have two ears and one mouth is to listen more and speak less.”
“Nothing endures but change.”
References
[1] Link
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Location of Seleucia in Iraq
A rendition of Diogenes by an artist, unfortunately the accuracy is questionable. |
