Problems Concerning First Principles

Moved by this injury of the times, Damascius and other Platonic philosophers left Greece and set out for Persia, where at that time Chosroes Khosrow I, Sassanid King of Kings was reigning, renowned for his victorious arms, love of letters, and all manner of praises.

But indeed, the hope that these philosophers had conceived regarding the state of the Parthians used here as a synonym for the Persians, and regarding Chosroes as a philosopher-king perfected according to the norm of Plato, failed them significantly; so that a few years later they returned to the Romans original: "6".

6) Agathias Scholasticus, bk. II, pp. 49 ff., ed. Venice; pp. 67 and 68, ed. Paris, writes at length about Uranius, a Syrian, who, assuming the appearance of an ephektikē suspensive/skeptical philosophy, played the buffoon before Chosroes and gained such favor that the king would even invite him to his dinner and honor him with many ornaments; finally, he confessed that this jester and fool was a man such as he had never found elsewhere. "And yet," continues Agathias, "he had previously seen truly excellent philosophers who had arrived to him from there. For not long before, Damascius the Syrian, Simplicius the Cilician, Eulamius the Phrygian, Priscianus the Lydian, Hermias, Diogenes from Phoenicia, and Isidorus the Gazan—all of whom were the absolute cream of those who philosophized in our time—since the glory prevailing among the Romans for the better did not please them, and they thought the Persian state was much better, having been persuaded by those things sung about by the masses—that among them there was the most just ruler, and such as the reasoning of Plato desires, where philosophy and kingship have come together; and that the subjects are most moderate and orderly, and neither thieves of money nor plunderers arise; nor do they pursue any other injustice, but if any of the precious possessions were left in any place, even the most deserted, no one of those who encounter it removes it, but it remains preserved for the one who left it until he returns. Lifted by these things as if they were true, and besides, having been forbidden by the laws to live freely there in the Roman Empire as they did not follow the established order, they immediately departed and went off to foreign and alien customs, intending to live the rest of their lives there. First, finding those in authority to be great boasters and inflated beyond what was fitting, they abhorred and disparaged them; then they saw that there were many house-breakers and thieves—some were caught, others escaped notice—and every kind of injustice was committed. For the powerful used great cruelty and inhumanity against those who were lesser, and—which is the most unreasonable of all—though it is permitted for everyone to take ten thousand wives, and thus they do take them, yet adulteries are nonetheless dared."