From the book
Stobaeus, Volume II
John Stobaeus · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordPrecipitate assent is acceptance that runs ahead of apprehension; the problem concerns premature cognitive commitment rather than a general condemnation of speed in action or inquiry.
- In StobaeusThe account first affirms secure believing and distinguishes two forms of opinion, then treats rushing before apprehension as alien to the complete virtuous person’s disposition.
- In this editionPreserve the restriction to deficient assent, and do not turn it into a prohibition on asking questions, revising a conclusion or acting promptly when understanding is adequate.
- A place to readChapter 7 · Excerpt 11m · Passage 17 Read the positive opening about firm belief before the criticism of rushing ahead; the relation between acceptance and apprehension explains what makes the assent precipitate.
- English renderings
- rush ahead; precipitate; rash in assent
Meaning
The propiptein family describes rushing ahead before apprehension. In this context precipitancy concerns the order and security of assent, not merely speaking quickly.
Use in the book
The Stoic exposition distinguishes secure belief from opinion and weak acceptance. It then condemns rushing ahead before apprehension and assenting in a precipitate manner as alien to the complete virtuous person. The problem is premature acceptance without the cognitive grasp required by the account. Related discussions deny conjecture and changes of mind to the wise person when these depend on prior false assent. The lexicon preserves these restricted descriptions instead of presenting them as a universal ban on inquiry, revision or practical speed.
The criticism follows a distinction between two kinds of opinion, not a general praise of slowness. A person can accept something that is not apprehensible or believe weakly; both are excluded from the ideal disposition. The final phrase adds the problem of accepting before apprehension, making the order of cognitive commitment important. This should not be paraphrased as saying that the wise person never reaches a conclusion quickly. The passage’s concern is the relation between grasp and assent, while its supplied connective remains marked rather than made invisible in a smooth summary.
“rushing ahead before apprehension” (Chapter 7 · Excerpt 11m · Passage 17).
Places to read
- Chapter 7 · Excerpt 11m · Passage 172Rushing before apprehension is opposed to firm belief.
- Chapter 7 · Excerpt 11m · Passage 212Conjecture and changing one’s mind are analyzed through deficient assent.
Translation in this edition
“Precipitate assent” names the contextual family; the direct witness is the verb and adjective, not a claim that the noun προπέτεια is printed there.
προπιπτεῖν
Attested. Chapter 7 · Excerpt 11m · Passage 17; Wachsmuth II, printed p. 112.
ἀλλοτρίας εἶναι τῆς τοῦ σοφοῦ διαθέσεως· δι’ ὃ καὶ τὸ προπιπτεῖν πρὸ καταλήψεως ⟨καὶ⟩ συγκατατίθεσθαι κατὰ τὸν προπετῆ φαῦλον
Source note
Wachsmuth, volume II, printed pp. 112–113. Quickness of mind is separately praised among virtues; cognitive rashness is not the same thing.