Demetrius of Phalerum
Subtitle: Text, Translation and Discussion
By: Eckart Schütrumpf
Edition: First edition.
Series: Rutgers University Studies in Classical Humanities
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2017
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 464
ISBN-13: 9781351326926
Subjects: Ancient Philosophy; Philosophie ancienne
Description: "Demetrius of Phalerum (c. 355-280BCE) of Phalerum was a philosopher-statesman. He studied in the Peripatos under Theophrastus and subsequently used his political influence to help his teacher acquire property for the Peripatetic school. As overseer of Athens, his governance was characterized by a decade of domestic peace. Exiled to Alexandria in Egypt, he became the adviser of Ptolemy. He is said to have been in charge of legislation, and it is likely that he influenced the founding of the Museum and the Library. This edition of the fragments of Demetrius of Phalerum reflects the growing interest in the Hellenistic period and the philosophical schools of that age. As a philosopher-statesman, Demetrius appears to have combined theory and practice. For example, in the work On Behalf of the Politeia, he almost certainly explained his own legislation and governance by appealing to the Aristotelian notion of politeia, that is, a constitution in which democratic and oligarchic elements are combined. In On Peace, he may have defended his subservience to Macedon by appealing to Aristotle, who repeatedly recognized the importance of peace over war; and in On Fortune, he will have followed Theophrastus, emphasizing the way fortune can determine the success or failure of sound policy. Whatever the case concerning any one title, we can well understand why Cicero regarded Demetrius as a unique individual: the educated statesman who was able to bring learning out of the shadows of erudition into the light of political conflict, and that despite an oratorical style more suited to the shadows of the Peripatos then to political combat. The new edition of secondary reports by Stork, van Ophuijsen, and Dorandi brings together the evidence for these and other judgments. The facing translation which accompanies the Greek and Latin texts opens up the material to readers who lack the ancient languages, and the accompanying essays introduce us to important issues. The volume will be of interest to those interested in Greek literature, Hellenistic philosophy, Hellenistic history, and generally to persons captivated by the notion of philosopher-statesman."--Provided by publisher.
Table of contents: title: Chapter 1 Demetrius of Phalerum --; title: The Sources, Text and Translation  -- Peter Stork; title: chapter 2 Diogenes Laertius' Life of Demetrius of Phalerum  -- Michael G. Sollenberger; title: chapter 3 Demetrius of Phalerum --; title: Who was He and Who was He Not?  -- Stephen V. Tracy; title: chapter 4 The Legislation of Demetrius of Phalerum and the Transformation of Athenian Law  -- Michael Gagarin; title: chapter 5 Demetrius of Phalerum: A Politician among Philosophers and a Philosopher among Politicians  -- Hans B. Gottschalk; title: chapter 6 II Contributo dei Papiri alia Ricostruzione delia Biografía e delle Idee sulla Retorica di Demetrio del Falero  -- Tiziano Dorandi; title: chapter 7 Demetrius of Phalerum on Literature*  -- Franco Montanari; title: chapter 8 Gli Aesopica di Demetrio Falereo -- Elisabetta Matelli.