Page:Ferrier Works vol 2 1888 LECTURES IN GREEK PHILOSOPHY.pdf/516

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LATER SCHOOLS, SCEPTICS.
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dom as the true life of the soul, and as a possession which the power of the imperial tyrant and his minions could never reach, was to enjoy a peace which the world could neither give nor take away. Such is the purport of the philosophy which Seneca enforces, often with eloquence and solemnity, although his style is generally deficient in natural grace, and somewhat too antithetical. The work in modern times which most closely resembles the writings of Seneca, both in thought and in expression, is Young's 'Night Thoughts.'

6. Having made these slight observations on the influence of Epicurism and Stoicism among the Romans, I must now say a few words in regard to the followers of Plato and Aristotle, the frequenters of the Academy and the Lyceum. Of Plato's immediate successors, Speusippus, Xenocrates, and Polemon, I have already spoken. These, with their master, may be reckoned as constituting what is called the old Academy. They were succeeded by what is called the second or middle Academy, the founder of which was Arcesilaus, who lived from about 318 to 250 B.C. The Academy was again renovated by Carneades, who lived from about 213 to 129 B.C. So that the philosophical school called the Academy comes before us under three modifications. First, the old Academy; secondly, the middle Academy; and, thirdly, the new Academy. In regard to their differences of doctrine, it may be sufficient to remark, that the second Academy