Against the Grammarians (Adversus Mathematicos I)Sextus Empiricus is one of the most important ancient philosophical writers after Plato and Aristotle. His writings are our main source for the doctrines and methods of Scepticism. He probably lived in the second century AD. Eleven books of his writings have survived, covering logic, physics, ethics, and many other fields. Against the Grammarians is the first book of Sextus' Adversus Mathematicos, his broad-ranging polemic against the various liberal studies of classical learning. It is prefaced by a short general attack on the arts (included in this volume); then Sextus focuses on the grammatical writers of the classical era, categorizing, analysing, and criticizing their doctrines. The result is not only an invaluable source for ancient ideas about grammar, language, and literary technique, but an excellent example of sustained Sceptical reasoning. David Blank presents a new translation into clear modern English of this important treatise, together with the first ever commentary on the work. In an extended introduction he discusses Against the Grammarians in the broad context of Sextus' work as a whole, Scepticism in general, and the history of ancient writings in this field. |
Common terms and phrases
according Alexandria analogy Apollonius Dyscolus argue argument Aristarchus Aristotle arts Asclepiades Athenaeus attack barbarism body century BC Chaeris Chrysippus cited claim commentary common usage consonants context correct Crates criterion Decleva Caizzi definition Demetrius dialect Diogenes Diogenes Laertius Dionysius Dionysius Thrax discussion division DThr elements Empedocles empeiria Epicurean Epicurean source Epicurus etymology Euripides example exist expert expertise FGrHist follow Galen gram grammar grammarians Greek Hellenism Hesiod Homer indicate knowledge learning letters liberal studies Mangoni masculine medicine names nature Nausiphanes non-expert orator orthography passage PHerc philo Philodemus philosophers Plato Plutarch poem poetic poetry poets prose-writers Ps.-Plutarch Pyrrho Pyrrhonian Quintilian reference refutation rhetoric sceptical scholia sense sentence Sextus says similar solecism sophists speak speech Stoic Sudhaus syllable Syntax taught Tauriscus teacher teaching technai technē things tion treatise true Usener verb verse vowels whole words writing Zeus