Anniceris (Ancient Greek:Ἀννίκερις; fl. 300 BC) was aCyrenaic philosopher. He argued that pleasure is achieved through individual acts of gratification which are sought for the pleasure that they produce, but he also laid great emphasis on the love of family, country, friendship and gratitude, which provide pleasure even when they demand sacrifice.
Anniceris was a disciple ofParaebates, and a fellow student ofHegesias. TheSuda says he lived at the time ofAlexander the Great (ruled 336–323 BC).[1]Diogenes Laertius tells a story that Anniceris ransomedPlato fromDionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, for twentyminas.[2] This may possibly refer to an earlier Anniceris, possibly the celebrated charioteer mentioned byAelian.[3][4]
Anniceris denied that pleasure was merely the absence of pain, for if so death would be a pleasure; and furthermore he denied that pleasure is thegeneral goal of human life. To each separate action, there is aparticular end, namely the pleasure which actually results from it.[4] He differed fromAristippus because he allowed that friendship, patriotism, and similar virtues, were good in themselves; saying that the wise person will derive pleasure from such qualities, even though they cause occasional trouble, and that a friend should be chosen not only for our own need, but for kindness and natural affection.
He also denied that reason (Greek:ὁ λόγος) alone can secure us from error; the wise person is the person who has acquired a habit of wise action; human wisdom is liable to lapses at any moment.[4][5]
The Annicerean (Ἀννικέρειος) sect originated from him.[6]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Anniceris".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 74.
Laërtius, Diogenes."Socrates, with predecessors and followers: Anniceris (subsection of Aristippus)" .Lives of the Eminent Philosophers. Vol. 1:2. Translated byHicks, Robert Drew (Two volume ed.). Loeb Classical Library.; Clement of Alexandria,Stromata. ii.| International | |
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