Fourth Philippic

The Fourth Philippic is a speech attributed to the Athenian statesman and orator, Demosthenes and given in 341 BC. It constitutes the last of the four philippics. Modern scholars, however, consider that the speech is not Demosthenes' work and may be attributed to Anaximenes of Lampsacus who frequently wrote imagined dialogues or speeches for real figures.[1] If it was a genuine Demosthenic speech, it is likely that it was issued in pamphlet form rather than actually delivered as a speech.[1]

Historical background

In 341 BC, when the embassy for which Demosthenes is calling in his fourth Philippic is sent to the Persians, Philip of Macedon is angry. Yet, the Persians reject the embassy.

Content of the speech

In the Fourth Philippic, Demosthenes asks that money be sent because of an upcoming war with Macedon. He calls for Athens to send an embassy to the Persians. It includes two significant passages copied from Demosthenes' earlier On the Chersonese and Second Philippic speeches, leading to further doubts about its authorship.[1]

gollark: As I said, in general apparently both sides are split pretty evenly, have fairly convincing arguments each way, and both think that their answer is obvious and the other is wrong.
gollark: Perhaps we are HIGHLY smart unlike random internet people and OBVIOUSLY picked the correct® answer, or perhaps we just hold similar philosophical/intellectual/whatever views which make us more inclined to one-box.
gollark: I mean, maybe the average internet rabble is just bad at understanding what "perfect prediction" means, but you could probably argue that it's "rational" at the time of choosing to take both, even if it's... acausally...? worse for you. Nobody here appears to have.
gollark: It's paradoxical because it breaks decision theories somewhat.
gollark: That's kind of the point of the paradox?

See also

References

  1. Henderson 1930, pp. 268-9.
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