Isocrates, To Alexander, ed. Larue Van Hook, 3

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[3] As regards systems of philosophy, they say that while you do not indeed reject eristic,¹ but hold that it is valuable in private discussions, you regard it nevertheless as unsuitable for either those who are leaders of the people or for monarchs; for it is not expedient or becoming that those who regard themselves as superior to all others should themselves dispute with their fellow-citizens or suffer anyone else to contradict them.

To Alexander. Isocrates. ed. Larue Van Hook. Cambridge, MA. 1945.

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Current edition Perseus

Letter 5: To Alexander (English) (Isocrates, Vol. 3. Van Hook, Larue, translator. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1945 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Ἐπιστολαὶ εʹ Ἀλεξάνδρῳ Perseus (Isocrates, Vol. 3. Van Hook, Larue, editor. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1945 (printing).) — 3 focus

[3] τῶν τε φιλοσοφιῶν οὐκ ἀποδοκιμάζειν μὲν οὐδὲ τὴν περὶ τὰς ἔριδας, ἀλλὰ νομίζειν εἶναι πλεονεκτικὴν ἐν ταῖς ἰδίαις διατριβαῖς, οὐ μὴν ἁρμόττειν οὔτε τοῖς τοῦ πλήθους προεστῶσιν οὔτε τοῖς τὰς μοναρχίας ἔχουσιν· οὐδὲ γὰρ συμφέρον οὐδὲ πρέπον ἐστὶ τοῖς μεῖζον τῶν ἄλλων φρονοῦσιν οὔτ’ αὐτοῖς ἐρίζειν πρὸς τοὺς συμπολιτευομένους οὔτε τοῖς ἄλλοις ἐπιτρέπειν πρὸς αὑτοὺς ἀντιλέγειν.

Notes on the current edition

To Alexander

1. For eristic, "disputation tor its own sake," see Isoc. 10.6 , with note.

Isocrates To Alexander 3

ed. Larue Van Hook

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