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Euclides|InternetEncyclopediaofPhilosophy

Euclides(c.430360B.C.E.)
Euclides was a native of Megara, and founder of the Megarian or Eristic sect. He applied
himselfearlytothestudyofphilosophy,andlearnedfromthewritingsofParmenidestheart
of disputation. Hearing of the fame of Socrates, Euclides moved to Athens and became a
devotedstudentformanyyears.BecauseofanenmitybetweenAtheniansandMegarians,a
decree was passed which forbid any Megarian from entering Athens under the penalty of
death.EuclidesmovedtwentymilesoutofAthens,andwouldsneakintothecityatnightfor
instruction,dressedasawomaninalongcloakandveil.Hefrequentlybecameinvolvedin
business disputes in civil courts. Socrates, who despised forensic contests, expressed
dissatisfactionwithEuclidesforhisfondnessforcontroversy.Itislikelythatthisprovokeda
separationbetweenEuclidesandSocrates,forafterthisEuclideswastheheadofaschoolin
Megara which taught the art of disputation. Debates were conducted with so much
vehemence among his pupils, that Timon said of Euclides that he carried the madness of
contentionfromAthensofMegara(Diog.Laert,6:22).Nevertheless,hisrestraintisattested
toinastoryaboutaquarrelhehadwithhisbrother.Hisbrothercharged,"Letmeperishif
donothaverevengeonyou."TothisEuclidesreplied,"AndletmeperishifIdonnotsubdue
your resentment by forbearance, and make you love me as much as ever." In disputes
Euclides was averse to the analogical method of reasoning, and judged that legitimate
argumentationconsistsindeducingfairconclusionsfromacknowledgepremises.
His position was a combination of Socraticism and Eleaticism. Virtue is knowledge, but
knowledgeofwhat?ItisherethattheEleaticinfluencebecamevisible.WithParmenides,the
Megarics believed in the one Absolute being. All multiplicity, all motion, are illusory. The
worldofsensehasinitnotruereality.OnlyBeingis.Ifvirtueisknowledge,therefore,itcan
onlybetheknowledgeofthisBeing.IftheessentialconceptofSocrateswastheGood,and
theessentialconceptofParmenidesBeing,Euclidesnowcombinedthetwo.Thus,according
to Cicero, he defined the "supreme good" as that which is always the same. The Good is
identifiedwithBeing.Being,theOne,God,Intelligence,providence,theGood,divinity,are
merely different names for the same thing. Becoming, the many, evil, are the names of its
opposite, notbeing. Multiplicity is thus identified with evil, and both are declared illusory.
Evil has no real existence. The good alone truly is. The various virtues, as benevolence,
temperance,prudence,aremerelydifferentnamesfortheonevirtue,knowledgeofbeing.It
is said that when Euclides was asked his opinion concerning the gods, he replied, "I know
nothingmoreofthemthanthis,thattheyhateinquisitivepersons."

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