Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Roger Pearse · 07-17-2008, 03:16 AM

I have just written a blog post on ancient sayings literature at

http://neonostalgia.com/weblog/?p=472

This might be of interest to some here. Comments are welcome, here or at the blog.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

Roger Pearse · 07-17-2008, 05:20 AM

From "The Laughable Stories":

He that showers wisdom on a fool is like a man who dresses a pig in rich jewelry.

mountainman · 07-17-2008, 07:13 PM

Nestorius, The Bazaar of Heracleides (1925) pp. 381-398. Appendices

Appendix 4: The metaphysic of Nestorius is (omitted) pp. 411-420, Is there any reason that "The Bazaar of Hereclietes" - Appendix 4: "The metaphysic of Nestorius" was omitted from the publication? Are you as a publisher - by omitting "The metaphysic of Nestorius" from the full set of the text - actually transmitting the text of Nestorius accurately? Or to ask the obvious question, what's in it ("The metaphysic of Nestorius")that you did not feel compelled to transmit to everyone?

Best wishes,

Pete

Toto · 07-17-2008, 09:30 PM

Quote:

It’s clearly a mistake to treat these sayings collections as if they were literary works like a poem or a history. Their nature means that they must be transmitted differently, the text is expected to be altered, is expected to have additional material added. There is no fraud or dishonesty in this; merely the nature of the genre.

Would you apply the same rule to collections of sayings, such as a collection of the sayings of Jesus? Even now, you can find lists of "quotations" that have taken on a life of their own. People seem to think it is okay to ascribe likely sayings to famous people who really ought to have said them.

Quote:

PS: After writing this I began to read the “Laughable stories”. Saying 56: “A rich man wrote above the door of his house, ‘No evil thing may enter.’ Diogenes said, ‘Fine; but how is your wife to come in, then?’ ”

It sounds like the worlds oldest profession might be the stand up comic.

Roger Pearse · 07-18-2008, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Quote:

It’s clearly a mistake to treat these sayings collections as if they were literary works like a poem or a history. Their nature means that they must be transmitted differently, the text is expected to be altered, is expected to have additional material added. There is no fraud or dishonesty in this; merely the nature of the genre.

Would you apply the same rule to collections of sayings, such as a collection of the sayings of Jesus? Even now, you can find lists of "quotations" that have taken on a life of their own. People seem to think it is okay to ascribe likely sayings to famous people who really ought to have said them.

Surely it is conceivable?

But the fact is that we don't have any collections which include sayings of Jesus in this manner. Then again, what sort of Jewish sayings collections exist, I wonder?

Roger Pearse

07-17-2008, 03:16 AM	#1
Roger Pearse Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 4,370	Texts which are NOT transmitted accurately I have just written a blog post on ancient sayings literature at http://neonostalgia.com/weblog/?p=472 This might be of interest to some here. Comments are welcome, here or at the blog. All the best, Roger Pearse

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07-17-2008, 05:20 AM	#2
Roger Pearse Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 4,370	From "The Laughable Stories": He that showers wisdom on a fool is like a man who dresses a pig in rich jewelry.

07-17-2008, 07:13 PM	#3
mountainman Contributor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Falls Creek, Oz. Posts: 11,192	Nestorius, The Bazaar of Heracleides (1925) pp. 381-398. Appendices Appendix 4: The metaphysic of Nestorius is (omitted) pp. 411-420, Is there any reason that "The Bazaar of Hereclietes" - Appendix 4: "The metaphysic of Nestorius" was omitted from the publication? Are you as a publisher - by omitting "The metaphysic of Nestorius" from the full set of the text - actually transmitting the text of Nestorius accurately? Or to ask the obvious question, what's in it ("The metaphysic of Nestorius")that you did not feel compelled to transmit to everyone? Best wishes, Pete

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