Book 5, Chapter 3

7 Although we see that the pursuit itself is of the greatest antiquity, we admit that its name is recent. Yet who can deny that wisdom itself is ancient not only in substance but in name? Among the ancients it earned this most beautiful name through knowledge of things divine and human, and of the origins and causes of everything. Thus we are told that the Seven, whom the Greeks called sophoi and our people “wise men,” were both regarded and named as such; so, many centuries earlier, was Lycurgus, in whose time Homer too is said to have lived, before the founding of this city; and already in the heroic age Ulysses and Nestor were both wise and reputed wise.

8 Nor would Atlas have been handed down as supporting the sky, or Prometheus as fastened to the Caucasus, or Cepheus as a constellation with his wife, his son-in-law, and his daughter, unless their godlike knowledge of the heavens had carried their names into the distortions of legend. Following their lead, all who devoted themselves to contemplating the world were thereafter regarded and described as wise, and that name continued in use down to the age of Pythagoras. According to Heraclides of Pontus, a pupil of Plato and a man of exceptional learning, Pythagoras is said to have come to Phlius and there discussed certain subjects at length and with learning with Leon, the ruler of the Phliasians. Leon, admiring his intelligence and eloquence, asked what art he relied on most. Pythagoras answered that he knew no art, but was a philosopher. Astonished by the unfamiliar name, Leon asked who philosophers were and how they differed from other people.

9 Pythagoras replied that human life seemed to him like the gathering held with the most splendid athletic games, where all Greece assembled. There, some men trained their bodies to seek the glory and distinction of a crown; others were drawn by the profit and gain of buying and selling. But there was another kind, the most noble of all, who sought neither applause nor profit, but came to watch and closely observed what was done and how. So too we have journeyed into this life from another life and another state of being, as people leave some city for a crowded festival: some serve glory, others money, while a rare few disregard everything else and devote themselves to contemplating the nature of things. These he called lovers of wisdom, for that is what “philosophers” means. Just as, at the games, the noblest activity was to watch without seeking any gain for oneself, so in life the contemplation and understanding of things far surpassed every other pursuit.

7 We can see that the activity is extremely old, though we admit the name is recent. Who could deny that wisdom itself is ancient, not just as a thing but as a name too? For people long ago, it earned that very beautiful name through knowledge of divine and human matters and of the beginnings and causes of everything. So we’ve learned that the Seven, whom the Greeks called and considered sophoi, and our people ‘wise men,’ really were wise and were thought to be so. The same is true of Lycurgus, many centuries earlier. Homer too is said to have lived in his time, before this city was founded. And already in the age of heroes there were Odysseus and Nestor.

8 We wouldn’t have been told that Atlas holds up the sky, that Prometheus is fastened to the Caucasus, or that Cepheus is among the stars with his wife, son-in-law, and daughter, if their godlike understanding of the heavens hadn’t drawn their names into misleading myths. Following their example, everyone who devoted his efforts to studying nature was considered and called wise. That name for them lasted down to Pythagoras’ time. Heraclides of Pontus, a student of Plato and an exceptionally learned man, writes that Pythagoras is said to have visited Phlius. There he spoke at length and with learning on certain subjects with Leon, the ruler of the Phliasians. Impressed by his intelligence and skill in speaking, Leon asked which craft he was most sure of his expertise in. Pythagoras replied that he didn’t know any craft, but was a philosopher. Leon was surprised by the unfamiliar name. He asked who philosophers were and what made them different from other people.

9 Pythagoras gave this answer. To him, our lives resembled a great fair, with games staged on a huge scale and people gathering from every part of Greece. One group trained their bodies, hoping for the fame and distinction of winning a crown. Another came to buy or sell, drawn by earnings and profit. A third group, perhaps the freest of all, wanted neither cheers nor money. Their purpose was to watch: they looked carefully at the proceedings and how they were carried out. Our arrival in this life, he said, is rather like leaving a city to join the crowds at a fair. We have left another life and another state of existence. Some of us become slaves to fame, some to money. Only a few think everything else worthless and devote their attention to understanding nature. His name for these people was ‘lovers of wisdom,’ which is what the word “philosophers” means. At the fair, the activity most suited to a free person was simply to watch, without getting anything for oneself. In our lives too, observing and understanding things ranks far above all other pursuits.