Book 1, Chapter 4

7 Just as Aristotle, a man of supreme genius, knowledge, and abundant resources, was stirred by the fame of the rhetorician Isocrates to begin teaching young men to speak as well, and to unite wisdom with eloquence, so I have resolved not to abandon my former devotion to oratory while engaging in this greater and more fruitful art. For I have always considered that philosophy complete which could discuss the greatest questions richly and gracefully. I have devoted myself to this exercise with such eager [effort] that I have now even ventured to hold discussions in the Greek manner. Recently, after your departure, when several friends were with me at Tusculum, I tried what I could do in this field. In earlier days I used to practice pleading cases—no one did so longer than I—and this is now my exercise in old age. I would ask someone to state what he wished to hear discussed, and then, sitting or walking, I would argue the subject.

8 I have therefore gathered the discussions of five days—“schools,” as the Greeks call them—into as many books. The procedure was this: after the person who wished to listen had said what he thought, I would argue against him. This, as you know, is the old Socratic method of disputing another person’s opinion. Socrates thought this the easiest way to discover what was most like the truth. But to unfold our discussions more conveniently, I shall present them as though they were taking place, rather than being reported. Our opening will therefore run as follows:

7 Aristotle was a man of extraordinary talent, knowledge, and range. Stirred by the fame of Isocrates the teacher of rhetoric, he began teaching young men to speak too, joining sound judgment with eloquence. In the same way, I intend to keep up my old interest in speaking while working in this greater, richer field. I’ve always thought philosophy was complete only when it could discuss the greatest questions fully and with style. I’ve practiced this so eagerly that I’ve now even dared to hold discussions in the Greek way. Recently, after you left, several friends were with me at my place in Tusculum. I tried out what I could do in this kind of discussion. I used to practice speeches on legal cases—no one kept doing that longer than I did. Now this is my speaking practice in old age. I’d ask someone to put forward a subject they wanted to hear about. Then I’d discuss it, either sitting or walking.

8 I’ve put these discussions, or ‘schools,’ as the Greeks call them, from five days into the same number of books. This is how it worked: the person who wanted to listen would state an opinion, and I’d argue against it. As you know, that’s Socrates’ old method of discussing things by arguing against someone else’s opinion. Socrates thought it was the easiest way to find what was most likely to be true. To make our discussions easier to follow, I’ll present them as though they’re happening, not as though I’m reporting them. So here’s how the beginning will go: