Philosophy of Botany. 207 



everything necessary or useful to be known, whatever was con- 

 trary to its dogmas was immediately condemned as erroneous, 

 and whatever was not found in this sacred volume was dis- 

 missed as superfluous. 



After the extinction of the Ommiades. who trod into the 

 footsteps of Mohammed, the accession of the family of Abba- 

 sides to the Khalifat opened again the dawning of philosophy 

 in the East. 



Of all the ancient peoples, none perhaps were less inclined 

 to materialistic conceptions than the Romans. With a reli- 

 gion deeply rooted in superstition was their public life 

 wrapped up in fanatical bigotry. Dominion they rated above 

 wealth, fame above welfare, conquest above all. A philo- 

 sophical school was attempted in Rome in the time of Cato. 

 the censor; but he, fearing that philosophical studies would 

 efifeminate the spirit of the young men, sternly dismissed it. 

 Cato himself was not illiterate, for he wrote a celebrated trea- 

 tise upon agriculture, and was acquainted with the Pythago- 

 rean tenets. 



Lucullus, while he was questor in Macedonia, and after- 

 wards, when he had the conduct of the Mithridatic war, had 

 frequent opportunities to converse with Grecian philosophers, 

 whence he acquired such a relish for philosophical studies 

 that afterwards, returned to Rome, he made a large collection 

 of valuable books and erected a library, with galleries and 

 schools adjoining. This place became the daily resort for 

 men of letters, where every one enjoyed the benefit of read- 

 ing or conversation, as best suited to his taste. At a little 

 later period M. Terrentius Varro wrote a work touching upon 

 natural history, " De Re Rustica " on agriculture. 



In the year B.C. io6 was born Marcus Tullius Cicero at 

 Arpinum. This illustrious Roman, who eclipsed all his con- 

 temporaries in eloquence, has also acquired no small share of 

 reputation as a philosopher. His eventful and meritorious 

 life has been as much praised and admired as his tragic end 

 has been deplored and lamented. He addicted himself to the 

 principles of the middle academy, a branch of tRe old academy, 

 or strictly Platonic school. In his treatise, " De Natura Deo- 

 xum " — on the nature of the gods — and " Questiones Tuscu- 



