Carneades; The Devil's Advocate

Welcome to this in-depth video about the life and philosophy of Carneades, one of the most influential philosophers of ancient Greece. In this video, we will explore Carneades' life, his ideas and his contributions to the world of philosophy.

Carneades was born in Cyrene, in modern-day Libya, and later moved to Athens where he became a student of the Academy, a school of philosophy founded by Plato. He became the head of the Academy in 155 BCE and remained in that position until his death.

Carneades' philosophy was characterized by his skepticism, which held that it was impossible to have certain knowledge about anything. He believed that our beliefs and opinions were always open to doubt and that we should be willing to examine them critically and be open to changing them if new evidence arises.

In addition to his skepticism, Carneades was also known for his ability to argue both sides of a philosophical debate. He believed that this was an important skill for a philosopher to have, as it allowed them to fully understand and appreciate the arguments of their opponents. This skill also enabled him to be a very entertaining and popular speaker.

One of Carneades' most famous debates was with the Stoic philosopher Chrysippus. The debate was about whether or not there was such a thing as natural law. Chrysippus argued that there was a natural law that governed the universe, while Carneades argued that there was no such thing. Carneades' argument was based on the idea that humans have different beliefs and customs, and that what is considered natural or right in one society may not be considered natural or right in another society. He believed that natural law was a human invention and not a universal truth.

Carneades' skepticism and his ability to argue both sides of a debate had a profound influence on the development of philosophy. His ideas were later adopted by the Roman philosopher Cicero, who wrote extensively about Carneades' arguments and used them to develop his own philosophical position.

In this video, we will delve into Carneades' ideas and explore the historical context in which they were developed. We will examine the impact that his philosophy had on later philosophers and how his ideas continue to shape philosophical debates today.

So sit back, relax, and join us on this journey into the fascinating world of Carneades and his philosophy.

[violetapril]

Hnmm, ok, but, can he argue on both sides of the philosophical debate?

[ashjash]

Was his time period still referred to as the classical greek period?

I have always been curious as to why a greek classical period so dominated by such reformist ideologies and philosophies would later devolve into a monarchic system once again reverting many of its new reformist ideas, was it solely because of roman invasions or simple lack of progress in military and defensive capabilities?