Forgotten Stoic: Solon of Athens

By Michael S. Pratt

NEW AND IMPROVED EDITION--2024
ALSO INCLUDES WISDOM OF THE SEVEN SAGES

Solon of Athens, the most revered lawgiver in Western history. Founder of democracy in Greece, reformer of Athens, herald, poet, politician, but above all: practical philosopher-sage.

Responding to crisis, in 594 BCE, Solon was elected Archon of Athens, and given the power to make sweeping changes. His poetry fragments show him as a man driven to rid his polis of tyranny and slavery by injecting new ideals of justice and freedom. Not just external in Athens, but also internal: a mind free from sleep, insight into the cosmos, the willpower to practice humility and temperance. Solon has been credited with the two most powerful sayings in philosophy of all time: Know Thyself and Nothing to Excess.

This book explores the connection between Solon's thoughts and Stoicism and distills the philosophy of Solon as someone who can be seen as an early Stoic, or a pre-Stoic sage: in short, someone we may still want to listen to today. Connections are made between Solon and the Seven Sages (of which he was one) and Heraclitus. Heraclitus became a foundation for Stoic thought and as we will see, he followed the wisdom and insight of the Seven Sages, as did Socrates centuries later. We outline the major facts known about Solon's life through his sayings and fragments remaining of his poetry which are all in this book. We also give an overview of his political, economic and social reforms.

CONTENTS

Know Thyself and Nothing to Excess-Solon as an Early Stoic
Calm the Eager Tumult of Your Heart-a Stoic way of life
One Man of Ten Thousand-the Link between Heraclitus, Solon and the Stoics
We Will not Exchange our Excellence with Them-Solon on Education and Virtue
The Discipline of Action-Putting the Crocodile into Torpor
Take the Mid-Seat, and be the Vessel's Guide-Solon on Governing, Part I-Laws
The Best they Could Receive-Solon and the Founding Fathers
The Fairest World Order-Solon on Governing, Part II-Economic Reforms
Count No One Happy-Solon on the Opportunity of Aging, Old Age and Death
A Teacher of Kings-Solon's Travels
Solon's Poetry Fragments

The Wisdom of the Seven Sages

The Seven Sages of Greece
Delphic Maxims-The Quest for Self-Perfection
How to Greet a God (the E at Delphi) (maybe important later)
Thales of Miletus-Choose One Sole Good
Chilon of Sparta-Dominate Anger
Pittacus of Mytilene-Mercy is Better than Vengeance
Bias of Priene-Most Men are Bad
Cleobulus of Lindus-Be Superior to Pleasure
Periander of Corinth-Practice Makes Perfect
Anacharsis of Scythia-Bridle Speech, Gluttony and Sensuality
Myson of Chenae-Investigate Arguments by the Light of the Facts
Epimenides of Crete

Further Reading and Bibliography
Ancient Sources / Modern Sources

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1070115282
• ISBN13: 9781070115283
• Release Date: May 2019
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"