Carneades

Carneades (213-129 B.C.), a Greek philosopher, born at Cyrene, in Africa, came early to Athens, and attended the lectures of Diogenes the Stoic, who is said to have taught him logic. For some unknown reason he abandoned Stoicism and became a Platonist, and founded the New or Third Academy. He was noted for his eloquence and power of persuasion, and in 155 he was sent with his old tutor Diogenes and another as ambassador to Rome. The philosophers in the intervals of business gave lectures, and Carneades, after one day convincing his auditors of the excellence of justice, convinced the same audience the next day of its utter hatefulness. This sophistical power had great effect upon both Cicero and Cato, and the latter wished to expel the ambassadors from Rome. In his later years Carneades became blind. The main point of his philosophical system was that man has no means of arriving at absolute truth.