Λόγος
discourse; language
Translated by Marcelo Boeri15 Dec 1999Vetting: high5 revisions
Translation
Discourse is a meaningful uttered sound1 deriving from thought. It has 6 meanings. Expression and discourse are different; for an expression can be meaningless, like bli/turi ,2 while discourse can in no way be meaningless. Saying, too, differs from uttering; for sounds are uttered but states of affairs (pra/gmata ), which indeed are sayables, are spoken of.3 The best characteristics of discourse [are] 5: Hellenism, clarity, brevity, propriety, consistency.4
The hypothesis is a logos too. Aristophanes [writes]: "provide Euripides with a plot, and it becomes a tragedy".5
Search for Chrysippus' "abominable discourses" in the "Chrysippus" [entry].6
The hypothesis is a logos too. Aristophanes [writes]: "provide Euripides with a plot, and it becomes a tragedy".5
Search for Chrysippus' "abominable discourses" in the "Chrysippus" [entry].6
Greek original · Adler’s text
Λόγος· λόγος ἐστὶ φωνὴ σημαντικὴ ἀπὸ διανοίας ἐκπεμπομένη. λόγος δὲ σημαίνει ʹ2ʹ. διαφέρει δὲ λέξις καὶ λόγος· λέξις μὲν γὰρ ἄσημος γίνεται ὡς βλίτυρι, λόγος δὲ οὐδαμῶς. διαφέρει δὲ καὶ τὸ λέγειν τοῦ προφέρεσθαι· προφέρονται μὲν γὰρ αἱ φωναί, λέγεται δὲ τὰ πράγματα, ἃ δὴ καὶ λεκτὰ τυγχάνει. ἀρεταὶ δὲ τοῦ λόγου εʹ· Ἑλληνισμός, σαφήνεια, συντομία, πρέπον, ἀποσκευή. Λόγος καὶ ἡ ὑπόθεσις. Ἀριστοφάνης· Εὐριπίδῃ λόγον παράσχῃς, καὶ τραγῳδία γένῃ. ζήτει λόγους ἀπορρήτους Χρυσίππου ἐν τῷ Χρυσίππος.
Betacode
*lo/gos: lo/gos e)sti\ fwnh\ shmantikh\ a)po\ dianoi/as e)kpempome/nh. lo/gos de\ shmai/nei #2#. diafe/rei de\ le/cis kai\ lo/gos: le/cis me\n ga\r a)/shmos gi/netai w(s bli/turi, lo/gos de\ ou)damw=s. diafe/rei de\ kai\ to\ le/gein tou= profe/resqai: profe/rontai me\n ga\r ai( fwnai/, le/getai de\ ta\ pra/gmata, a(\ dh\ kai\ lekta\ tugxa/nei. a)retai\ de\ tou= lo/gou e#: *(ellhnismo/s, safh/neia, suntomi/a, pre/pon, a)poskeuh/. *lo/gos kai\ h( u(po/qesis. *)aristofa/nhs: *eu)ripi/dh| lo/gon para/sxh|s, kai\ tragw|di/a ge/nh|. zh/tei lo/gous a)porrh/tous *xrusi/ppou e)n tw=| *xrusi/ppos.
Notes (6)
- From Diogenes Laertius 7.56-59, with addenda.
- 1This definition is Aristotelian (On Interpretation 16b26). ↩
- 2cf. beta 335. ↩
- 3These lines reproduce Diog.Laert. 7.57 in a slightly different way and their content is Stoic. ↩
- 4See Diog.Laert. 7.59 (= SVF 3.24). By "Hellenism" is meant the use of good Greek style and diction which is in accordance with grammar; clarity is an expression (
le/cis ) easily understandable; brevity is a speech which includes no more words than are necessary for the sake of clarification of the thing under discussion; propriety is a speech which is appropriate to the thing under discussion. With regard to the last type of excellence of discourse, there must be a mistake in the Suda text. The Diog.Laert. passage readskataskeuh/ , "correct style" or "elaboration", which has the right sense. In fact,a)poskeuh/ ("filth" or "ordure") does not fit the meaning of a specific excellence of discourse unless it is taken with its meaning of "stuff, things that fill in". On these "best qualities of discourse", see Atherton (1993) 89-92. ↩ - 5Aristophanes, Peace 146-147, with comment from the scholia there. "Plot" is the conventional translation of logos in dramatic contexts, i.e. the main story in the narrative or drama. ↩
- 6chi 569. ↩
References
C. Atherton, The Stoics on Ambiguity (Cambridge 1993)
B. Mates, Stoic Logic (Berkeley & Los Angeles 1961)
M. Mignucci, Il significato della logica stoica (Bologna 1967)
B. Mates, Stoic Logic (Berkeley & Los Angeles 1961)
M. Mignucci, Il significato della logica stoica (Bologna 1967)
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Revision history5 revisions · last 22 Apr 2013
- tweak, typo — Catharine Roth
- tweaking — David Whitehead
- modified translation; augmented notes and keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Modified translation; cosmetics. — Marcelo Boeri
- Revised — Svetla Slaveva
- Translated — Marcelo Boeri