Other Schools and Authors

Abstract

AbstractThe chapter examines the use of the dialogue in a variety of intellectual environments other than the Academy and Peripatos. It discusses the dialogue in the Minor Socratic schools of the Megarians and Cyrenaics, in particular its use by Stilpo of Megara and Hegesias of Cyrene. Next sections are dedicated to the three major Hellenistic traditions—the Cynics, Stoics, and Epicureans—and trace their employment of dialogue (for instance, representation of mentors and colleagues in conversation, parodic dialogues, and incorporation of dialogized passages into paraenetic discourse). The dialogue format was also used by Timon of Phlius who had his teacher Pyrrho explain his skeptical philosophy and refute dogmatic philosophers and by the renowned Hellenistic scholar, poet, and polymath Eratosthenes of Cyrene. The last two sections are devoted to early imperial period dialogues by Philo of Alexandria and the Tablet of Cebes.