Antiochus of Ascalon

Reading notes

• Ad Atticum 13.12 §3 There are Antiochean doctrines in it

  Antiochus of Ascalon, the philosopher who broke from the sceptical Academy toward a dogmatic, quasi-Stoic position; his system is the matter of Cicero's Academica. Varro, his former pupil, approved of these doctrines.

• Ad Atticum 13.16 §1 the Antiochean line of argument

  Antiochus of Ascalon (c. 125-68 BC), head of the Academy whose syncretic, dogmatic system is the philosophical subject of the Academica; not the Syrian city or any Seleucid king.

• Ad Atticum 13.25 §3 he too is an Antiochean

  An adherent of Antiochus of Ascalon, the philosopher whose 'Old Academy' system is the subject of the Academica. Cicero notes that Brutus, like Varro, follows Antiochus, so the dialogue would suit him as an alternative dedicatee.

• Ad Familiares 9.8 §1 I have given you the parts of Antiochus

  In the dialogue Cicero assigns Varro the role of expounding the dogmatic, anti-sceptical position of Antiochus of Ascalon (Varro's own philosophical allegiance), while taking for himself the sceptical position of Philo of Larissa, Cicero's teacher. The 'parts' are thus philosophical roles in the debate over whether certain knowledge is possible.

• Brutus §315 the Old Academy

  Antiochus of Ascalon revived the dogmatic 'Old Academy,' rejecting the scepticism of Philo; Cicero spent six months with him at Athens, renewing his philosophical study.

• Tusculan Disputations §3.59 as I see our Antiochus write

  Antiochus of Ascalon (c. 130-68 BC), founder of the so-called 'Old Academy' revival and one of Cicero's teachers. Cicero draws from his writings the report that Carneades faulted Chrysippus for praising a Euripidean song.