The Stoics, Epicureans and Sceptics - College of Stoic Philosophers

POST-ARISTOTELIAN PHILOSOPHY. 27
predominance of the above tendencies, and partly in Chap.
their separate existence, without modification by-
intermixture. After the middle of the second (f)
-^'*-
Jiitences
century a gradual change may be observed. Greece jjrodncinff
had then become a Roman province, and the intelfl'^f^^'
asm.
lectual intercourse between Greece and Eome was
^^^ poiui-
continually on the increase. Many
learned Greeks cal in-
resided at
„ T
Rome, frequently
I
• r ftumce of
as the companions oi 'j}oiue.
families of high birth ; others living in their own
country, were visited by Roman pupils. Was it
possible that in the face of the clearly-defined and
sharply-expressed Roman character, the power and
independence of the Greek intellect, already unquestionably
on the decline, would assert its ancient
supremacy? Or that Greeks could become the
teachers of Romans without accommodating them-
selves to their demands, and experiencing in turn a
reflex influence ? Even Greek philosophy could not
withdraw itself from this influence. Its creative
power was long since in abeyance, and in Scepticism
it had openly avowed that it could place no trust in
itself. To the practical sense of a Roman no philosophical
system commended itself which did not
make for practical results by the shortest possible
route. To him practical needs were the ultimate
standard of truth. Little did he care for strict logic
and argumentative accuracy in scientific procedure.
Differences of schools, so long as they had no practical
bearing, were for him of no importance. No wonder
that Greek philosophy, touched by the breath of
Rome,
lent itself to Eclecticism I