The Stoics, Epicureans and Sceptics - College of Stoic Philosophers

84
THE STOICS.
Chap.
^'
of thought to
known by like
its object,
since like can onh^ be
according to the well-known adage,
the rational element in the universe can only be
known by the rational element in man.^ But again,
the understanding has no other material to work
upon but that supplied by sensation, and general
conceptions are only obtained from sensation by con-
clusions. The mind, therefore, has the capacity of
formally working up the material supplied by the
senses, but to this material it is limited. Still, it can
progress from perceptions to notions not immediately
given in sensation, such as the conceptions of what is
good and of God. And since, according to the Stoic
teaching, material objects only possess reality, the
same vague inconsistency may be observed in their
teaching as has been noticed in Aristotle ^— reality
attaching to individuals, truth to general notions.
This inconsistency, however, is more marked in their
case than in that of Aristotle, because the Stoics so
far adhere to the Cynic nominalism' as to assert that
no reality attaches to thought."* Such an assertion
true first appears in judgment.
''
I)iofj. fil : ivviti^xa (oV)ject
See Zeller, Philosoijliie der of tlioufjlit) St ian