Chapter 13 The Downside of Doxography
In: Aëtiana IV
Author:
Richard McKirahan
Richard McKirahan
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Abstract
The immense importance of doxographical materials for our knowledge of the Presocratic philosophers (and some later philosophers also) is unquestioned, but the nature and content of these materials, in cases where they are the only information we possess, impose severe limitations on our ability to pursue the history of philosophy in a satisfactory manner. Thales is the best example of this. We have none of Thales’s original words and neither did the authors of the testimonia we possess. From this point of view they were in the same position as we are with regard to determining Thales’ own original views, making our task as historians doubly difficult.