Portraits of the Ideal Philosopher from the Roman Imperial Era

Latest change: September 3, 2008

Lucian, Dio, and Epictetus are three of the four sources for a composite Roman-era portrait of the ideal philosopher, as described in lecture V in the Teaching Company series by Luke Timothy Johnson, "Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists." The fourth source is Julian, Orations vi and vii, which do not seem to be available online at this point.

Lucian, The Life of Demonax

Lucian, Nigrinus: A Dialogue

Dio Chrysostom, Discourses 77/78

Epictetus, Discourses III, 22 (About Cynicism)