Source edition
Lucian, Vol. 3. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1921.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This dialogue explores the question of why humans love useless lies and are so easily swayed by superstition. The narrator, a rationalist named Tychiades, recounts to his friend Philocles his recent visit to the sickbed of the wealthy philosopher Eucrates. There, a group of highly respected philosophers, doctors, and intellectuals eagerly share absurd tales of magic cures, moving statues, encounters with the underworld, and even an object animated by spells to carry water. Despite Tychiades' persistent attempts to offer rational explanations and expose their foolishness, the other guests dismiss his skepticism as impiety. Unable to endure the parade of ridiculous falsehoods any longer, Tychiades departs, concluding in his conversation with Philocles that "truth" and "sound reason" (logos) are the only effective antidotes to protect the mind from the poison of lies.