On the Emergence of the Social Figure of the Philosopher in the Greek Cities

Abstract

The article proposes a historical study of the pre-Socratic philosophers as social beings. For this purpose, information from two well-known catalogues is cross-referenced: Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker by H. Diels and W. Kranz (8th edition 1956) and the Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis edited by M. H. Hansen and T. H. Nielsen (2004). The 106 philosophers in the former catalogue come from 40 of the 1035 cities examined in the latter. This finding is combined with the examination of biographical information about the philosophers and the characteristics of the cities where they live. The sketch of the "city with philosophers" shows the predominance of colonial cities, with larger territories, stable external relations, and a rich and relatively well-known institutional life. These aspects are reflected in their greater social complexity, of which philosophers are an additional indication. It is also noteworthy how philosophical ideas spread largely through the networks linking metropolises and colonies, and the scarce and late presence of philosophers in mainland Greece.