Hegesinus of Pergamon

Hegesinus of Pergamon ( Greek Ἡγησίνους Hēgēsínus ; † before 155 BC in Athens ) was an ancient Greek philosopher . He is identical to the philosopher "Hegesilaos" mentioned by Clement of Alexandria . Perhaps the form “Hegesilaos” handed down only by Clemens is a typo, but it can also be a variant of the name. The form of the name "Hegesinos" is not authentic.

Life

Hegesinus came from the city of Pergamon in western Asia Minor . Pergamon was then the capital of the kingdom of the same name, in which the Attalid dynasty ruled. Nothing is known about Hegesinus' family and childhood. He received his training at the Platonic Academy in Athens , the philosophy school founded by Plato . There was Evandros of Phokaia his teacher. Evandros is said to have been a renowned philosopher, but nothing is known about his views. Hegesinus achieved the position of scholar (head of school) in the academy . One of his students was the famous philosopher Karneades of Cyrene , who lived before 155 BC. Was his successor as Scholarch.

In the academy in the 3rd century BC A direction established as the “younger academy”. Its characteristic is skepticism , the fundamental doubt about the provability of philosophical statements. Hegesinus was certainly one of the representatives of the "academic skepticism". Nothing more is known about his philosophy and no writings from him have survived.

Source collection

Hans Joachim Mette : Other academics today: From Lakydes to Kleitomachos . In: Lustrum 27, 1985, pp. 39–148 (compilation of the source texts for Hegesinus pp. 41, 46, 47 [T 5, T 6], 52, 65 [T 6a, T 6b], 66 [T 6d])

literature

Tiziano Dorandi: Hégésinos . In: Richard Goulet (ed.): Dictionnaire des philosophes antiques . Volume 3, CNRS Éditions, Paris 2000, ISBN 2-271-05748-5 , pp. 529-530
Woldemar Görler : Lakydes and his successors . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy . The philosophy of antiquity , Vol. 4: The Hellenistic Philosophy , 2nd half volume, Schwabe, Basel 1994, ISBN 3-7965-0930-4 , pp. 829–848, here: 835–836, 852–853

Remarks

^ Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 1:14; see Hans Joachim Mette: Further academics today: From Lakydes to Kleitomachos . In: Lustrum 27, 1985, pp. 39-148, here: 65 (T 6a).
↑ See also Woldemar Görler: Lakydes and his successors . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , vol. 4: The Hellenistic philosophy , 2nd half volume, Basel 1994, pp. 829–848, here: 834–836.

personal data
SURNAME	Hegesinus of Pergamon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Hegesilaos, Hegesinos
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	ancient Greek philosopher
DATE OF BIRTH	3rd century BC BC or 2nd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH	before 155 BC Chr.
Place of death	Athens

[1] Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 1:14; see Hans Joachim Mette: Further academics today: From Lakydes to Kleitomachos . In: Lustrum 27, 1985, pp. 39-148, here: 65 (T 6a).

[2] See also Woldemar Görler: Lakydes and his successors . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , vol. 4: The Hellenistic philosophy , 2nd half volume, Basel 1994, pp. 829–848, here: 834–836.