Aristippus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 435 BCE |
| Died | c. 356 BCE (aged c. 78 – 79) |
| Philosophical work | |
| Era | Ancient Greek philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | Cyrenaic school |
| Main interests | Hedonism,Epistemology |
| Notable ideas | Hedonism |
Aristippus ofCyrene (/ˌærəˈstɪpəs/;Ancient Greek:Ἀρίστιππος ὁ Κυρηναῖος; c. 435 – c. 356 BCE) was ahedonisticGreek philosopher[1][2] and the founder of theCyrenaic school of philosophy.[3] He was a pupil ofSocrates, but adopted a different philosophical outlook, teaching that the goal of life was to seek pleasure by adapting circumstances to oneself and by maintaining proper control over both adversity and prosperity. His view that pleasure is the only good came to be called ethicalhedonism.[4][1] Due to the ideological and philosophical differences between Socrates and himself, Aristippus faced backlash by Socrates and many of his fellow-pupils. Out of his hedonistic beliefs, Aristippus' most famous phrase was, "I possess, I am not possessed."[5] Despite having two sons, Aristippus identified his daughterArete as the "intellectual heiress" of his work, resulting in the systematization of his work and theCyrenaic school of philosophy, byArete, and her sonAristippus the Younger, Aristippus' grandson, during the later years of his life and after his death.[6][1]
There are indications that Aristippus was conflated with his grandson,Aristippus the Younger.[7]
Aristippus, the son of Aritades, was born inCyrene,Ancient Libya, c. 435 BCE. Having come toGreece to attend theOlympic games, he met and askedIschomachus aboutSocrates, resulting in a strong desire to seeSocrates, after hearing of his description. SeekingSocrates, he went toAthens and made him his master.[8][9]
Though a disciple ofSocrates, Aristippus wandered both in principle and practice from the teaching and example of his master.[9] After learning the philosophical views and values ofSocrates, Aristippus formed a greater interest in pleasure, eventually leading him to popularize and focus more solely on ethical hedonism.[1] Due to his philosophical differences from Socrates, Aristippus sought other avenues, leading him towards the court ofDionysius I of Syracuse orDionysius the Younger. At the court Aristippus became a counselor, and continued to seek his pleasures.[1] While there he lived luxuriously and sought sensual gratification and the company of the notoriousLais.[1] In addition, Aristippus was the first ofSocrates' disciples to make money for his teaching, which on occasion he sent toSocrates, although often it was returned to him, due toSocrates viewing it as an insult.[10][11][12] Aristippus also said that he resided in a foreign land in order to escape the trouble of involving himself in the politics of his native city, toSocrates.[13][14][9]
Due to his lifelong pursuit of pleasure and philosophical teachings on pleasure, against the teachings ofSocrates, Aristippus garnered conflict between philosophers likeSocrates and his fellow-pupils over the course of his life.[1] He is also said to have been taken prisoner byArtaphernes, the satrap who drove theSpartans fromRhodes in 396.[15][16] Despite the backlash he received for his philosophical views, teachings and lifestyle, Aristippus continued his spread of ethical hedonism by imparting his doctrine to his daughterArete who, in turn, imparted it to her son,Aristippus the Younger, who is said to have reduced it to a system in theCyrenaic school of philosophy, that Aristippus helped found.[9] In old age, Aristippus is said to have returned toCyrene, living out his retirement in luxury and in the pursuit of pleasure till his death, at the age of 79.[1][12]
In Book VI ofDe architectura,Vitruvius describes Aristippus:
It is related of theSocratic philosopher Aristippus that, being shipwrecked and cast ashore on the coast of theRhodians, he observedgeometrical figures drawn thereon, and cried out to his companions: "Let us be of good cheer, for I see the traces of man." With that he made for the city of Rhodes, and went straight to thegymnasium. There he fell to discussingphilosophical subjects, and presents were bestowed upon him, so that he could not only fit himself out, but could also provide those who accompanied him with clothing and all other necessaries of life. When his companions wished to return to their country, and asked him what message he wished them to carry home, he bade them say this: that children ought to be provided with property and resources of a kind that could swim with them even out of a shipwreck.[17]
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| Hedonism |
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Aristippus' philosophies centered around hedonism. Having been a pupil ofSocrates, Aristippus recognizedSocrates' enjoyment of things like parties, the drinking of wine and accepting gifts.[1] Intrigued by such acts, Aristippus eventually formed the philosophy of ethicalhedonism. Aristippus viewed pleasure and the pursuit of pleasure as life's supreme good, as well as valued the importance of not becoming possessed or enslaved by such pleasurable acts and objects.[1] By way of his philosophy, Aristippus' famous phrase, "I possess, I am not possessed," emerged.[5] Having stressed his beliefs, Aristippus admonished his followers to never harm others, and cautioned that the pursuit of pleasure ought to be moderated by moral self-restraint.[1] After forming his philosophy, Aristippus started theCyrenaic school of philosophy where his philosophical principles would be taught, further structured, and turned into a comprehensive system by his daughter,Arete, and his grandson,Aristippus the Younger.[1]
Despite Aristippus' bringing attention to the value of pursuing pleasure albeit in moderation, Aristippus' hedonistic philosophy often received backlash bySocrates and his fellow-pupils. WhileSocrates did indulge in such activities like parties, drinking wine and accepting gifts, Socrates viewed virtue as more valuable than pleasure.[1] Since Aristippus valued pleasure more thanSocrates did and found less intrinsic value in virtue, other philosophers, likePlato andXenophon, supported as well as initiated the accusation that Aristippus had defied and had strayed fromSocrates' philosophical teachings.[1]Aristotle is also noted for calling him asophist.[9] Due to the differences in philosophical values and beliefs, Aristippus and his hedonistic philosophy separated him fromSocrates as well as from other prominent philosophers at that time. One notable example of philosophers demonstrating disdain for Aristippus' values is inPlato'sPhaedo, wherePlato describes Aristippus having been atAegina, a pleasure resort, rather attending as a witness ofSocrates' death.
Of the anecdotes that survive about Aristippus, those fromDiogenes Laërtius are the most abundant.[18][9] Diogenes asserts, for example, that to observe the precepts of Aristippus is "to endeavor to adapt circumstances to myself, not myself to circumstances"[19] and that, "every complexion of life, every station and circumstance sat gracefully upon him." Another such report is of Aristippus being reproached for his love of bodily indulgences, to which Aristippus is said to have answered, "It is not abstinence from pleasures that is best, but mastery over them without ever being worsted."[20][11]
None of Aristippus's works are extant. Diogenes Laërtius, on the authority ofSotion andPanaetius, gives a long list of books whose authorship is ascribed to Aristippus, though he also states that according toSosicrates of Rhodes, Aristippus never wrote anything.[21][1] Some letters attributed to him are said by some to be forgeries.
One work attributed to Aristippus in ancient times was a book entitledOn Ancient Luxury (orOn the Luxury of the Ancients;Greek:Περὶ παλαιᾶς τρυφῆς); although it has long been considered that this work could not have been written by Aristippus of Cyrene,[22] not least because the author mentionsTheophrastus, who lived a generation after Aristippus.[23] The name may have been adopted by the writer to suggest a connection with the hedonistic philosopher.[24] This work, judging by the quotations preserved byDiogenes Laërtius,[25] has also been presumed to have been filled with anecdotes about philosophers and their supposed taste forcourtesans orboys.[23]
Ethical or evaluative hedonism claims that only pleasure has worth or value and only pain or displeasure has disvalue or the opposite of worth.
Although he had two sons, Aristippus designated his daughter Arete as his intellectual heiress. She in turn bestowed the succession on her son Aristippus call "the Mother-taught."
Laërtius, Diogenes."Socrates, with predecessors and followers: Aristippus" .Lives of the Eminent Philosophers. Vol. 1:2. Translated byHicks, Robert Drew (Two volume ed.). Loeb Classical Library.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Aristippus".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
