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It is stated in this article that Lucius M. Plutarch (46 AD-120 AD) was the first known person to have used the word gymnosophist. However, it is also stated that Philo of Alexandria (25 BCE-50 AD)used it in one of his treatises when referring to Indian sadhus. It is true that Philo wrote about them in his essay on Essenes. If it is true what the Wikipedia article says, Plutarch wrote about them before he was 5 years old! The reason is that Philo died when Plutarch was only 4 years old. Due to the obvious mistake I will change the article to state that Plutarch wrote about them instead of stating that Plutarch was the FIRST one who wrote about them. I leave this note, so the editors can verify by themselves what I say is true and do not revert the entry to its previous mistaken state. If anyone finds out this error again, in case my correction is reverted, please correct it.
Gymnosophists Were Most Likely Digambar Jain Monks[edit]
In the West, the Greek philosopher known as DEMOCRITUS OF ABDERA (4th century BC) is credited as the one who first theorized about the existence of atoms. His school of thought has been called “atomism”, however, the concept of atoms was entirely new to Greece, whereas it was an old concept in India dating back at least to Bhagavan Mahavira (599 to 527 BC) of Jainism. At least 5 different ancient Greek and Roman historians wrote that Democritus traveled to India and studied there (as well as Babylonia and Egypt). These historians include DIOGENES LAERTIUS, SUIDAS, STRABO (while citing Alexander the Great’s historian Megasthenes), AELIAN (Claudius Aelianus), and the early Christian theologian HIPPOLYTUS. In fact, both Diogenes Laertius and Hippolytus specifically stated that Democritus studied under the GYMNOSOPHISTS or “naked sages” of India who have been identified as none other than the naked Jain monks. Hence, it is possible that Democritus of Abdera gained the idea of atomism, which was new to the Greeks, directly from the Jains in India.
Source: Taylor, C.C.W. THE ATOMISTS: LEUCIPPUS AND DEMOCRITUS - FRAGMENTS A TEXT AND TRANSLATION WITH A COMMENTARY. University of Toronto Press, 1999. 47.138.18.163 (talk) 03:35, 24 April 2023 (UTC)[reply]
