Sextius was born no later than 70 BC.[2] He founded a school of philosophy combining some features of the Pythagoreans with others of the Stoics; and which was consequently classed sometimes with one, and sometimes with the other of those sects. Seneca describes Sextius as a Stoic but mentions that Sextius himself denied it.[3] From the Epistles of Seneca we learn that Sextius, though born of an illustrious family, had declined the office of Senator when offered him by Julius Caesar.[4] He also subjected himself to a scrupulous self-examination at the close of each day;[5] and he abstained from animal food, though for different reasons than those ascribed to Pythagoras:
Sextius believed that man had enough sustenance without resorting to blood, and that a habit of cruelty is formed whenever butchery is practised for pleasure.[6]
Sextius' son succeeded him as head of his school. He may be identical with the writer on pharmacology, Sextius Niger.[7] A Xystus Pythagoricus philosophus is recorded in Jerome's version of the Chronicon of Eusebius. He is also mentioned by Plutarch,[8] and by the elder Pliny.[9] Seneca writes (c. 65 AD) that the school was extinct.[10]
Work
Seneca delighted much in a work of Sextius, the title of which he does not give, but which he praises, as written with great power:
Ye Gods, what strength and spirit one finds in him! This is not the case with all philosophers; there are some men of illustrious name whose writings are sapless. They lay down rules, they argue, and they quibble; they do not infuse spirit simply because they have no spirit. But when you come to read Sextius you will say: "He is alive; he is strong; he is free; he is more than a man; he fills me with a mighty confidence before I close his book." I shall acknowledge to you the state of mind I am in when I read his works: I want to challenge every hazard; I want to cry: "Why keep me waiting, Fortune? Enter the lists! Behold, I am ready for you!"[11]
It has sometimes been suggested that the extant Sentences of Sextus were (in their original form) written by Sextius.[12]
^Richard M. Gummere, Seneca, Epistles 1–65, p. 412. Loeb Classical Library.
Bibliography
Omar Di Paola, The Philosophical Thought of the School of the Sextii, in Epekeina, vol. 4, n. 1–2 (2014), pp. 327–339.
Italo Lana [it], "Sextiorum nova et Romani roboris secta", RFIC 31 (1953), 1–26 and 209–234.
Eduard Zeller, Die Philosophie der Griechen (1880–1892), T. III, 1, pp. 675–682.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Quintus Sextius.
January 20, 2023
quintus, sextius, elder, latin, quinti, sextii, patris, roman, philosopher, whose, philosophy, combined, pythagoreanism, with, stoicism, praises, were, frequently, celebrated, seneca, contents, life, work, also, notes, bibliographylife, editsee, also, school, . Quintus Sextius the Elder ˈ k w ɪ n t e s ˈ s ɛ k s t i e s Latin Quinti Sextii Patris fl c 50 BC was a Roman philosopher whose philosophy combined Pythagoreanism with Stoicism His praises were frequently celebrated by Seneca 1 Contents 1 Life 2 Work 3 See also 4 Notes 5 BibliographyLife EditSee also School of the Sextii Sextius was born no later than 70 BC 2 He founded a school of philosophy combining some features of the Pythagoreans with others of the Stoics and which was consequently classed sometimes with one and sometimes with the other of those sects Seneca describes Sextius as a Stoic but mentions that Sextius himself denied it 3 From the Epistles of Seneca we learn that Sextius though born of an illustrious family had declined the office of Senator when offered him by Julius Caesar 4 He also subjected himself to a scrupulous self examination at the close of each day 5 and he abstained from animal food though for different reasons than those ascribed to Pythagoras Sextius believed that man had enough sustenance without resorting to blood and that a habit of cruelty is formed whenever butchery is practised for pleasure 6 Sextius son succeeded him as head of his school He may be identical with the writer on pharmacology Sextius Niger 7 A Xystus Pythagoricus philosophus is recorded in Jerome s version of the Chronicon of Eusebius He is also mentioned by Plutarch 8 and by the elder Pliny 9 Seneca writes c 65 AD that the school was extinct 10 Work EditSeneca delighted much in a work of Sextius the title of which he does not give but which he praises as written with great power Ye Gods what strength and spirit one finds in him This is not the case with all philosophers there are some men of illustrious name whose writings are sapless They lay down rules they argue and they quibble they do not infuse spirit simply because they have no spirit But when you come to read Sextius you will say He is alive he is strong he is free he is more than a man he fills me with a mighty confidence before I close his book I shall acknowledge to you the state of mind I am in when I read his works I want to challenge every hazard I want to cry Why keep me waiting Fortune Enter the lists Behold I am ready for you 11 It has sometimes been suggested that the extant Sentences of Sextus were in their original form written by Sextius 12 See also EditSchool of the Sextii Sextia gens NeopythagoreanismNotes Edit Seneca Epistles lix 7 8 lxiv 2 5 lxxiii 12 15 xcviii 13 cviii 17 18 De Ira ii 36 iii 36 The Philosophical Thought of the School of the Sextii by Omar Di Paola Seneca Epistles lxiv 2 Seneca Epistles xcviii 13 Seneca De Ira iii 36 Seneca Epistles cviii 18 Lana 1953 8 9 Plutarch De Profect Virtut Sentent Opp vol vi Pliny Naturalis Historia xviii 68 alibi Seneca Naturales Quaestiones vii 32 Seneca Epistles lxiv 3 Richard M Gummere Seneca Epistles 1 65 p 412 Loeb Classical Library Bibliography EditOmar Di Paola The Philosophical Thought of the School of the Sextii in Epekeina vol 4 n 1 2 2014 pp 327 339 Italo Lana it Sextiorum nova et Romani roboris secta RFIC 31 1953 1 26 and 209 234 Eduard Zeller Die Philosophie der Griechen 1880 1892 T III 1 pp 675 682 Wikiquote has quotations related to Quintus Sextius Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Quintus Sextius amp oldid 1106737290, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
