BOOK IV

Ed. Chart. X. [4.]             Ed. Bas. IV. (35.)

You will undoubtedly win if you speak against Hippocrates, or against Diocles, or against Praxagoras, or against all the other ancients before such a crowd. Instead, bring into the assembly as judges those men of old who were experts in dialectic original: "διαλεκτικοὺς" (dialektikous). Dialectic is the formal art of logical argument and investigation used to find the truth. and scientific knowledge. These are men practiced in discerning truth from falsehood, who understand how to distinguish between what is logical and what is contradictory, and who have studied the method of demonstration original: "ἀποδεικτικὴν μέθοδον" (apodeiktikēn methodon). In the classical sense, this is a systematic way of proving a conclusion based on established first principles. since they were children.

Before these men, dare to bring some charge against Hippocrates. While they sit in judgment, attempt to use that foul and barbaric voice of yours to argue against Hippocrates. First, argue that it is not necessary to be curious about the nature of man. Then, argue that even if someone were to grant you this point, Hippocrates investigated nature poorly and everything he declared was false.

Who, then, shall be the judge? If you wish, let it be Plato, since you have not yet dared to insult him. For my part, I would not even flee from his disciples, neither Speusippus nor Xenocrates. Indeed, I would call upon you to submit to the judgment of Aristotle, and with him, Theophrastus. I would even pray for you to choose Zeno, Chrysippus, and any of their followers as judges.