Chrysippus of Soli

Chrysippus of Soli (c. 279 BC – c. 206 BC) was a Hellenistic philosopher from Soli, Cilicia, who became one of the most influential thinkers in the Stoic school of philosophy. He is often credited with systematizing the doctrines of the early Stoics and is considered the second founder of Stoicism, after Zeno of Citium.

Life

Chrysippus was born in Soli, Cilicia, around 279 BC. Little is known about his early life before he moved to Athens, where he became a disciple of Cleanthes, the second head of the Stoic school. After the death of Cleanthes, Chrysippus assumed the position of scholarch, or head, of the Stoic school and held this position until his death around 206 BC.

Philosophical Contributions

Chrysippus was a prolific writer, reputed to have written around 705 works, although only fragments of these writings survive today. His contributions to Stoicism cover a wide range of subjects, including logic, ethics, and physics.

Logic

Chrysippus is considered one of the greatest logicians of antiquity. He developed a formal system of propositional logic that was more advanced than the categorical logic of Aristotle. His work in this area laid the foundations for the development of propositional logic by later philosophers.

Ethics

In ethics, Chrysippus emphasized the Stoic doctrine of living in accordance with nature. He argued that virtue is the only true good and that external circumstances should not affect one's inner peace and rationality. He also developed the concept of 'oikeiosis', which explains the process of affinity and adaptation of individuals to their environment and to each other.

Physics

In the realm of physics, Chrysippus elaborated on the Stoic beliefs in determinism and the interconnectedness of the universe. He argued that everything happens according to divine reason (Logos) and that the universe is a rational, living being.

Legacy

Chrysippus's work greatly influenced the development of Stoicism and helped establish it as one of the major schools of philosophy in the Hellenistic world and later in Rome. His teachings influenced many later philosophers, including Seneca the Younger, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius.

Death

Chrysippus is said to have died around 206 BC. According to one ancient account, he died in a fit of laughter after giving wine to his donkey and seeing it attempt to eat figs.