Hortatory Address to the Greeks

If "the discovery of the truth" is considered one definition of philosophy among them, how can those who lack true knowledge be worthy of the name of philosophy? For if Socrates, who is deemed the wisest of your wise men and even acknowledged by your oracle, as you claim, saying, "Of all men Socrates is the wisest"—if he admits that he knows nothing, how did those who came after him claim to understand even heavenly things? Socrates said he was called wise because, while others pretended to know what they did not, he did not hesitate to confess his ignorance.

He said, "I seem to myself to be wisest by this little particular, that what I do not know, I do not suppose I know." Let no one think Socrates was pretending to be ignorant, even though he often used irony in his dialogues. His final words in his apology, spoken as he was being led to prison, show that he was sincerely admitting his ignorance: "But now it is time to go away, I indeed to die, but you to live.

And which of us goes to the better state is known only to God." Socrates, having spoken these last words in the Areopagus, went to the prison, leaving the knowledge of hidden things to God alone; but those who followed him, though they cannot comprehend even earthly things, claim to understand heavenly ones as if they have seen them. Aristotle at least—claiming to have more accurate heavenly visions than Plato—stated that God did not exist in the fiery substance, as Plato said, but in the fifth element, air.

While he demanded belief in his views due to his eloquent speech, he ended his life overwhelmed by the disgrace of failing to understand even the nature of the Euripus in Chalcis.

Therefore, let no one of sound judgment prefer the elegant speech of these men over their own salvation. Like the story of old, stop your ears with wax and flee the enticing harm these sirens would cause. These men, using elegant language as bait, have tried to lead many away from the true religion, imitating the one who first dared to teach polytheism to humanity.

Do not be swayed by these individuals, I urge you, but read the prophecies of the sacred writers. If laziness or old inherited superstitions keep you from reading the prophecies of the holy men through which you can learn about the one true God, the first tenet of true religion, then believe him who, though he initially taught you polytheism, later chose to recant with a useful and necessary correction—I mean Orpheus, who said what I quoted a little earlier; and believe the others who wrote the same things about one God.

Through Divine Providence, it was arranged on your behalf that they, even unwillingly, confirmed that what the prophets said about one God was true, so that, as the belief in many gods was dismissed by all, you might have the opportunity to know the truth.