Aeschines from Sphettos

Aeschines von Sphettos ( ancient Greek Αἰσχίνης Aischínēs , Latinized Aeschines ; * probably between 430 BC and 420 BC in Sphettos ; † after 357/356 BC) was a Greek ancient philosopher and a student of Socrates .

Life

Aeschines' dates of life are only roughly known. His family came from the Attic Demos Sphettos of the Phyle Akamantis , the father was called Lysanias. According to Plato, Aeschines was 399 BC. BC among the friends of Socrates, who spent his last hours with him before his death and at that time should have been a fairly young man. After Socrates' death he probably went to Megara . Like the Socratic students Plato and Aristippus of Cyrene before him , Aeschines stayed at least once for a while at the court of the tyrant Dionysius II in Syracuse , even when he was in 357/356 BC. Was expelled from there.

Aeschines (according to Diogenes Laertios and Seneca ) is said to have been poor as early as when he became a student of Socrates . Fragments of a speech by Lysias entitled Against the Socratics of Aeschines because of debts have also survived , in which Aeschines is denounced as a debt maker. He did not pay back his debts and borrowed money with reasons such as that he wanted to build up an existence as a manufacturer of perfumes. Various sources report that Aeschines' move to the court in Syracuse was due to lack of money. Either Plato or - more likely - his friend Aristippus of Cyrene (Aeschines' relationship to Plato is described as distant) gave him lucrative access to the court. Diogenes Laertios reports that Aeschines made money writing court speeches and giving lectures.

A possible pupil of Aeschines was named Aristotle with the nickname “the myth” and (before he was supposed to have been poached by Plato) Xenocrates .

Works

Various ancient authors have ascribed a total of seven dialogues, four letters and a court speech to Aeschines. Three of the letters (to the Socratic Aristippus of Cyrene, Xenophon and Phaedo of Elis ) were certainly written later . Nothing is known about the fourth letter (to Dionysius II) or about the court speech (a defense speech by the father of the general Phaiax) except that it mentions Diogenes Laertios.

Dialogues

Only fragments of the seven dialogues have been preserved. Whether they actually come from Aeschines was already controversial in antiquity, but in general they were recognized as genuine. A legend that originated after Aeschines 'and can be found in several ancient reports is the claim that the seven dialogues actually originate from Socrates himself and were handed over to Aeschines by Socrates' wife after his death.

Little is known for sure about the dialogues Axiochos , Kallias , Rhinon and Telauges .

The Miltiades dialogue was - as much we know - about the nature of a good upbringing and the question of who can convey it. Socrates, the politician Hagnon , the poet Euripides and a little known Miltiades (the son of an also unknown Stesagoras) appear as interlocutors .

In the Aspasia dialogue , Socrates is supposed to recommend a teacher to the rich Callias for his son, who can make him a capable citizen and politician. Socrates proposes the famous Aspasia and justifies it below. First, he gives Thargelia of Miletus and the Persian Rhodogyne as examples that women can be important politicians and thus experts in this field. Then he emphasizes the abilities of Aspasia - of which he, Socrates, was also a student - which, through teaching and love, made Pericles and Lysicles outstanding politicians. Finally, he tells of a conversation between Aspasia, Xenophon and his wife. Aspasia is said to have made it clear to both of them that they are looking for the most excellent partner. To be that for each other, they just have to strive to be the most excellent man and the most excellent woman. Love, according to the lesson in this section, can bring about an effort for excellence ( arete ).

The dialogue Alkibiades is about a conversation between Socrates and the later statesman Alkibiades . Alkibiades feels superior to his contemporaries and also to the great politicians of the past. In the course of the conversation, however, Socrates leads him to the insight that great achievements do not depend so much on innate talents, but on skills that one has to acquire over time. Alkibiades is dismayed, bursts into tears, lays his head on Socrates' knee and says that he is in no way different from the least of his fellow citizens. So he asks Socrates to help him achieve excellence ( arete ). Towards the end, Socrates sums up that he could not help Alcibiades because he was in possession of a special art ( techne ) or a special knowledge, but rather because of divine providence and his love.

Source collections and translations

Gabriele Giannantoni (Ed.): Socratis et Socraticorum Reliquiae , Volume 2, Bibliopolis, Naples 1990, Section VI-A ( online )
Johann Georg Schulthess: Aeschines des Socratikers philosophical discussions , Orell, Geßner, Füßlein , Zurich 1779 ( online )
Aeschines the Socratic: Conversations and Cebes des Theban's painting , translated by Karl Pfaff , 2nd edition, Metzler, Stuttgart 1883

literature

Overview representations

Klaus Döring : Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy . The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, ISBN 3-7965-1036-1 , pp. 201-206
Michael Erler: Aeschines from Sphettos . In: Bernhard Zimmermann , Antonios Rengakos (Hrsg.): Handbook of the Greek literature of antiquity. Volume 2: The Literature of the Classical and Hellenistic Period. CH Beck, Munich 2014, ISBN 978-3-406-61818-5 , pp. 289-292
Marie-Odile Goulet-Cazé: Aischinès de Sphettos . In: Richard Goulet (ed.): Dictionnaire des philosophes antiques. Volume 1, CNRS, Paris 1989, ISBN 2-222-04042-6 , pp. 89-94; Addendum by Richard Goulet in the volume Supplément , Paris 2003, ISBN 2-271-06175-X , p. 58

Investigations

Heinrich Dittmar: Aeschines from Sphettos. Studies on the literary history of the Socratics. Investigations and Fragments (= Philological Investigations 21). 2nd, unchanged edition. Weidmann, Hildesheim 2001 (1st edition Berlin 1912), ISBN 3-615-10010-7
Barbara Ehlers : A Pre-Platonic Interpretation of Socratic Eros. The dialogue "Aspasia" of the Socratics Aeschines (= Zetemata 41). Beck, Munich 1966

Web links

Wikisource: Aeschines (Socratics) - Sources and full texts

Literature by and about Aeschines in the catalog of the German National Library

Footnotes

↑ The section life follows Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: pp. 201–202.
^ Plato, Apology 33e. Plato's statements are favored over those contradicting them in Diogenes Laertios, Über Leben und Lehren der Philosophen 2.60 (Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (Ed.): Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie. Die Philosophie der Antike , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: p. 201).
^ Plato, Apology 33e.
^ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers , 2:62.
^ ^A ^b Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 63.
↑ Diogenes Laertios, On Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2:34.
↑ Seneca, On Charities 1, 8, 1-2.
↑ Athenaios , Deipnosophistai 11, 507c.
↑ Flavius Philostratos , Vita Apollonii 1, 34; Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 61; Lukian of Samosata , De parasito 32.
↑ Plutarch , Quomodo adulescens poetas audire debeat 67c-67e.
↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 60; 2, 82-83 and Plutarch, de cohib. ira 462de.
↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 61.
↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the life and teachings of the philosophers 2, 61, 3, 36 and Athenaios, Deipnosophistai 11, 507c.
^ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 62-63.
↑ Diogenes Laertios, On Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 63 and 5, 35.
↑ Athenaios, Deipnosophistai 11, 507c.
^ Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: p. 202.
↑ ^a ^b ^c Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: p. 203.
^ Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: pp. 203–204.
^ Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: pp. 204–205.

personal data
SURNAME	Aeschines from Sphettos
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Aeschines; Aeschines Socraticus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Greek ancient philosopher; Pupil of Socrates
DATE OF BIRTH	around 425 BC Chr.
PLACE OF BIRTH	Sphettos, Athens
DATE OF DEATH	after 357 BC Chr.

[1] The section life follows Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: pp. 201–202.

[2] Plato, Apology 33e. Plato's statements are favored over those contradicting them in Diogenes Laertios, Über Leben und Lehren der Philosophen 2.60 (Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (Ed.): Grundriss der Geschichte der Philosophie. Die Philosophie der Antike , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: p. 201).

[3] Plato, Apology 33e.

[4] Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers , 2:62.

[laertios_63-5] A ^b Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 63.

[6] Diogenes Laertios, On Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2:34.

[7] Seneca, On Charities 1, 8, 1-2.

[8] Athenaios , Deipnosophistai 11, 507c.

[9] Flavius Philostratos , Vita Apollonii 1, 34; Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 61; Lukian of Samosata , De parasito 32.

[10] Plutarch , Quomodo adulescens poetas audire debeat 67c-67e.

[11] Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 60; 2, 82-83 and Plutarch, de cohib. ira 462de.

[12] Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 61.

[13] Diogenes Laertios, On the life and teachings of the philosophers 2, 61, 3, 36 and Athenaios, Deipnosophistai 11, 507c.

[14] Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 62-63.

[15] Diogenes Laertios, On Lives and Teachings of the Philosophers 2, 63 and 5, 35.

[16] Athenaios, Deipnosophistai 11, 507c.

[17] Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: p. 202.

[Grundriss203-18] Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: p. 203.

[19] Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: pp. 203–204.

[20] Klaus Döring: Aischines from Sphettos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 201–206, here: pp. 204–205.