Occasion of this tract; a book written by Colotes, 338. Plutarch
undertakes to answer it, and why, 339, 340. Colotes wrongly
represents Democritus, 341. Our senses give us true information, but
it does not follow that the different qualities which are perceived
in the same object by different persons prove that nothing is of one
nature more than another, 341-343. This argument further applied,
344. Does color exist in the dark? 344, 345. Doctrine of Democritus
concerning atoms, 346. Are atoms immutable and impassible? 347,
348. How then can any thing be generated? 348. Is generation the
mere union of atoms? 348. According to Colotes life cannot exist,
349. His doctrines virtually abolish nature, 349. Is nature nothing
distinct from bodies and their place? 350. Is death nothing but that
which dies? 350. Empedocles defended from the misrepresentations
of Colotes, 350, 351. Parmenides also defended, 352-354. A thing
positively existing distinguished from its sensible qualities, 354.
Aristotle and the Peripatetics differed from Plato, 355. Colotes
misrepresents Plato, 355, 356. Difference between that which exists
by itself, and that which participates of something else; or between
essence and form, 356-359. Colotes falls at the feet of Epicurus,
360. Epicurus accepts the homage, 360. Disparagement of Socrates by
Colotes, 361. Though our senses are not perfect, they may in general
be safely relied on, 362. If self-knowledge is valuable, Colotes is
blamable for scoffing at those who seek it, 363. Stilpo defended
against Colotes, 365-367. That one thing cannot be predicated of
another may not endanger life, 365. It is bad to withhold reverence
and worship from the gods, as Colotes and the Epicureans do, 366.
Colotes assaults the philosophers of his own time, 367. He condemns
even the opinions of Epicurus, when he finds them held by others,
368, 369. The Cyrenaic philosophers ridiculed, 369. Arcesilaus
unfairly treated by Colotes, 371. Three sorts of motions in the soul:
what they are; their influence, 371, 372. Absurdity of Epicureanism,
373. The opinions of Epicurus tend to universal scepticism, 374. It
is well and safe in some cases to withhold our assent, and to doubt
in matters which do not appear credible, as did Arcesilaus and his
followers, 371-376. Safety of believing and following the doctrines
of Socrates, Plato, and the Academy, 377. Degradation and danger
resulting from the doctrines of Epicurus, 377, 378. Those doctrines
fatal to the state, 379. No people, no city, is found without some
religion, but Epicureanism subverts all religion, 380. Great public
spirit of Democritus, Parmenides, Socrates, Plato, and others, who
are reviled by Colotes and other Epicureans, 381, 382. Men of the
school of Epicurus do not contribute to the public welfare, 383-385.