Teles of Megara (Greek: Τέλης; fl. c. 235 BC), was a Cynic philosopher and teacher. He wrote various discourses (diatribes), seven fragments of which were preserved by Stobaeus.
Nothing is known about Teles except for the limited information he reveals in his writings. In his discourse On Exile he refers to events in the Chremonidean War in the 260s BC, and he makes a specific reference to Hippomedon's governorship in Thrace under Ptolemy III Euergetes in the years following 241 BC, thus this discourse was written shortly after this date.[1] His native city is uncertain: he makes various indirect references to Megara which show that he was living and teaching there, but it is possible that he originally came from Athens.[2] In Megara, Teles operated a school where he taught Cynicism, selecting teachings from earlier philosophers and dispensing them to his pupils.[3]
Workedit
Seven extracts of the lectures of Teles, totalling about thirty pages, are preserved by Stobaeus, although Stobaeus' own selections come from an earlier epitome by an otherwise unknown Theodorus.[4] Thus, what survives is a series of extracts from extracts, and it is quite possible that in between Teles and Theodorus, or Theodorus and Stobaeus, the writings went through a further editing process.[5] The seven extracts are:
Περὶ τοῦ δοκεῖν καὶ τοῦ εἶναι – On Seeming and Being
Περὶ αὐταρκείας – On Self-Sufficiency
Περὶ φυγῆς – On Exile
Σύγκρασις πενίας καὶ πλούτου – A Comparison of Poverty and Wealth
Περὶ τοῦ μὴ εἶναι τέλος ἡδονήν – On Pleasure not being the Goal of Life
Περὶ περιστάσεων – On Circumstances
Περὶ ἀπαθείας – On Freedom from Passion
As a writer Teles has been regarded as being deficient in both literary and logical virtues,[6] but this may reflect the way in which his works have been edited and compressed by Theodorus, Stobaeus, and others.[4] The value of his writings lies in the fact that they are the earliest Cynic discourses (diatribes) to survive, and they provide an insight into the Hellenistic world in which Teles lived.[7] His works make frequent mention of Socrates and Diogenes, and he preserves important fragments from the works of Crates of Thebes, Metrocles, Stilpo and Bion of Borysthenes.[6] Without him we would know little about the Cynic diatribe in the 3rd-century BC, and we would know much less about Bion.[8]
Dudley, Donald (1937), A History of Cynicism, Methuen
O'Neil, Edward (1977), Teles: The Cynic Teacher, Scholars Press, ISBN0-89130-092-9
Further readingedit
Edward O'Neil,Teles (The Cynic Teacher). Missoula (Mont.), Scholars Press, 1977. ISBN0-89130-092-9
Pedro Pablo Fuentes González, Diatribes de Télès, introduction, texte revu et commentaire des fragments, avec en appendice une traduction espagnole. Paris, Librairie philosophique J. Vrin, 1998. ISBN2-7116-1350-X
April 18, 2024
teles, megara, greek, Τέλης, cynic, philosopher, teacher, wrote, various, discourses, diatribes, seven, fragments, which, were, preserved, stobaeus, contents, life, work, notes, references, further, readinglife, editnothing, known, about, teles, except, limite. Teles of Megara Greek Telhs fl c 235 BC was a Cynic philosopher and teacher He wrote various discourses diatribes seven fragments of which were preserved by Stobaeus Contents 1 Life 2 Work 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further readingLife editNothing is known about Teles except for the limited information he reveals in his writings In his discourse On Exile he refers to events in the Chremonidean War in the 260s BC and he makes a specific reference to Hippomedon s governorship in Thrace under Ptolemy III Euergetes in the years following 241 BC thus this discourse was written shortly after this date 1 His native city is uncertain he makes various indirect references to Megara which show that he was living and teaching there but it is possible that he originally came from Athens 2 In Megara Teles operated a school where he taught Cynicism selecting teachings from earlier philosophers and dispensing them to his pupils 3 Work editSeven extracts of the lectures of Teles totalling about thirty pages are preserved by Stobaeus although Stobaeus own selections come from an earlier epitome by an otherwise unknown Theodorus 4 Thus what survives is a series of extracts from extracts and it is quite possible that in between Teles and Theodorus or Theodorus and Stobaeus the writings went through a further editing process 5 The seven extracts are Perὶ toῦ dokeῖn kaὶ toῦ eἶnai On Seeming and Being Perὶ aὐtarkeias On Self Sufficiency Perὶ fygῆs On Exile Sygkrasis penias kaὶ ploytoy A Comparison of Poverty and Wealth Perὶ toῦ mὴ eἶnai telos ἡdonhn On Pleasure not being the Goal of Life Perὶ peristasewn On Circumstances Perὶ ἀpa8eias On Freedom from PassionAs a writer Teles has been regarded as being deficient in both literary and logical virtues 6 but this may reflect the way in which his works have been edited and compressed by Theodorus Stobaeus and others 4 The value of his writings lies in the fact that they are the earliest Cynic discourses diatribes to survive and they provide an insight into the Hellenistic world in which Teles lived 7 His works make frequent mention of Socrates and Diogenes and he preserves important fragments from the works of Crates of Thebes Metrocles Stilpo and Bion of Borysthenes 6 Without him we would know little about the Cynic diatribe in the 3rd century BC and we would know much less about Bion 8 Notes edit O Neil 1977 p xi O Neil 1977 pp xii xv O Neil 1977 p xv a b Dudley 1937 p 85 O Neil 1977 p xvii a b Dudley 1937 p 86 O Neil 1977 pp ix x Dudley 1937 p 87References editDudley Donald 1937 A History of Cynicism Methuen O Neil Edward 1977 Teles The Cynic Teacher Scholars Press ISBN 0 89130 092 9Further reading editEdward O Neil Teles The Cynic Teacher Missoula Mont Scholars Press 1977 ISBN 0 89130 092 9 Pedro Pablo Fuentes Gonzalez Diatribes de Teles introduction texte revu et commentaire des fragments avec en appendice une traduction espagnole Paris Librairie philosophique J Vrin 1998 ISBN 2 7116 1350 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Teles of Megara amp oldid 1163079695, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
