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Prof. William W. Fortenbaugh’s Work Pays Tribute to Dicaearchus of Messana

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Prof. William W. Fortenbaugh’s Work Pays Tribute to Dicaearchus of Messana

January 10
23:19 2022

Prof. William W. Fortenbaugh is the author and co-editor of an exposé to one of philosophy’s greatest minds, titled “Dicaearchus of Messana: Volume 10 (Rutgers University Studies in Classical Humanities)”. The book highlights the work and ideologies of the peripatetic philosopher Dicaearchus of Messana (c. 320 BC), making it to the shelves on August 31, 2001.

Similar to Theophrastus of Eresus, Dicaearchus was an apprentice of Aristotle. Sadly, there is not much known about the life of this scholar as there is no biography by Diogenes Laertius, and what the Suda offers is scanty. But it is a definite fact that close friendship existed between Aristoxenus and Dicaearchus, as personal students of Aristotle.

Based primarily in the Peloponnesus, Dicaearchus is remembered for his pursuit of geographical studies and measuring mountains. He is also said to have enjoyed the patronage of kings. His work ‘On the Soul’ reflects the Aristotelian thesis of the same title, but Dicaearchus’s work was not an esoteric treatise; it was a dialogue in two parts.

“His interest in good and bad lifestyles also found expression in works such as “On the Sacrifice at Ilium”, and “On the Destruction of Human Beings”, in which he presented man himself as the greatest threat to mankind. In “On Lives”, a work of at least two books, he considered philosophers and others noted for their wisdom, with his main thesis being the superiority of the active life over that of quiet contemplation”, says a spokesperson for the book.

Dicaearchus’s work of descriptive geography displays his interest in earth’s sphericity, leading him to make maps and so on. The largest number of texts in the collection deal with cultural history, most of which stem or appear to stem from his Life of Greece, while the smallest section deals with politics.

This tenth volume in the series Rutgers Studies in Classical Humanities comprises a facing translation of the Greek and Latin texts, simplifying the material for readers who may not understand the ancient languages, and the accompanying essays present vital issues beyond the scope of the text.

William W. Fortenbaugh is Professor Emeritus of Classics at Rutgers University. He founded the Rutgers University Studies in Classical Humanities (RUSCH) series and is the current series editor.

For more information, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/William-W-Fortenbaugh-dp-0765800934/dp/0765800934/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1638425856.

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Website: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/William-W-Fortenbaugh-dp-0765800934/dp/0765800934/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1638425856

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