Anaxarch

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Anaxarch ( ancient Greek Ἀνάξαρχος Anáxarchos ; * approx. 360 BC in Abdera , Thrace ; † 320 BC ) was a Greek philosopher who belonged to the Democratic school .

Life

Anaxarch was born in Abdera in Thrace . He was a friend of Alexander the Great and accompanied him on his campaigns in Asia. Most of the anecdotes handed down by Diogenes Laertios about Anaxarch's life and teachings have survived, which emphasize his extraordinary steadfastness and calmness. Their historical accuracy can hardly be checked in detail, but they have shaped the enduring image of Anaxarch in such a way that they cannot be ignored because of their literary impact. In response to Alexander's claim to be a son of Zeus , the philosopher is said to have pointed to a bleeding wound of Alexander and said: "This is the blood of a mortal and not Ichor , as it flows from the veins of the immortal gods " - the second part of the sentence is a quote from the Iliad .

At a banquet of King Nikokreon of Salamis (Cyprus) , Anaxarch is said to have answered all too frankly when asked how he liked the performance that the only thing missing was that the head of “a certain satrap” would be served, pointing to Nikokreon. When the latter then had the philosopher stamped to death in a mortar, he is said to have endured the torture without crying out in pain and only said: "Destroy the body of Anaxarch, you will not destroy Anaxarch himself". When Nikokreon then ordered the philosopher's tongue to be torn out, Anaxarchs bit it off so that the tyrant could not even command it. This death of Anaxarch became very well known through the mentions of Cicero and Valerius Maximus and was often cited as an example of extreme steadfastness until modern times.

Works

Anaxarch's philosophical views and teachings are not known. His nickname εὐδαιμονικός ( eudaimonikós "the blissful") is partially interpreted to mean that he saw happiness (Greek Eudaimonia ) as an ethical goal in life ( Telos ) . In addition, because of the anecdotes, one can assume that the ideal of unshakable peace of mind (see ataraxia ) played a major role for him. Valerius Maximus also calls him a supporter of Democritus' teaching that there are infinitely many worlds.

literature

  • Richard Goulet, François Queyrel: Anaxarque d'Abdère . In: Richard Goulet (ed.): Dictionnaire des philosophes antiques , Vol. 1, CNRS, Paris 1989, ISBN 2-222-04042-6 , pp. 188-191; Addendum in the volume Supplément , Paris 2003, ISBN 2-271-06175-X , p. 71

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ Diogenes Laertios IX 10, 58-60.
  2. ^ Diogenes Laertios IX 10, 60.
  3. ^ Iliad VI 340.
  4. ^ Diogenes Laertios IX 10:59.
  5. ↑ Cicero, Tusculanae disputationes II 22, 52; De natura deorum III 33, 82.
  6. ↑ Valerius Maximus III 3 ext. 4th
  7. ↑ Valerius Maximus VIII 14 ext. 2.
personal data
SURNAME Anaxarch
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Anaxarchos; Anaxarchus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek philosopher
DATE OF BIRTH around 360 BC Chr.
PLACE OF BIRTH Abdera , Thrace
DATE OF DEATH 320 BC Chr.