Metrokles
Metrokles ( ancient Greek Μητροκλῆς Mētroklḗs , Latinized Metrocles ; * in the 4th century BC ; † in the 3rd century BC ) was an ancient Greek philosopher . He belongs to the current of cynicism .
His writings are lost, only a few ancient accounts of his life and teaching have survived. The most important source is the philosophy historian Diogenes Laertios , who was active in the 3rd century .
Life
The exact lifetime of Metrokles is unknown. He was a brother of the philosopher Hipparchia , who was married to the famous Cynic Krates of Thebes . He and his sister came from a noble family in the city of Maroneia in Thrace . He seems to have gone to Athens early to learn from well-known philosophers.
Metrokles received philosophical lessons first from the Peripatetic Theophrastus of Eresus and later from the academic Xenocrates . The following story has come down to us about the turning away from these schools and Metrokles' turn to cynicism. Although Metrokles received ample funds from his wealthy family to Athens, he feared for his financial situation. In order to be able to keep up with the members of the Peripatos and the Academy, it was necessary to look like a fine, rich gentleman and to run a lavish household. When an embarrassing mishap struck - he got a fart - Metrokles decided to starve himself to death. In this state he was visited by the cynic Krates of Thebes, who had been eaten with beans as a precaution . When he couldn't convince Metrokles with arguments that something very useful had happened to him, he resorted to other means and farted too. Metrokles then joined him, adopted the Cynical way of life and suddenly found it easy to get by without financial support from Maroneia. The story is considered evidence of sociological differences between the Academy and Peripatos on the one hand and the Cynics on the other.
According to a tradition shared by Diogenes Laertios, Metrokles died at an old age by holding his breath.
Teaching
It is believed that Metrokles represented a moderate cynicism. He is not said to have rejected wealth as a matter of principle, as the earlier Cynics, but viewed it as harmful if it is not used appropriately. It is known that Metrokles wrote so-called Chrien (collection of sayings and anecdotes of famous people). Theombrotos and Kleomenes were students of Metrokles .
Source collections and translations
expenditure
- Gabriele Giannantoni (Ed.): Socratis et Socraticorum Reliquiae , Volume 2, Bibliopolis, Naples 1990, Section VL ( online )
Translations
- Georg Luck (ed.): The wisdom of dogs. Texts of the ancient Cynics in German translation with explanations (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 484). Kröner, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-520-48401-3 , pp. 216-218.
literature
- Klaus Döring : Metrokles . 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. 304–305
- Marie-Odile Goulet-Cazé: Métrocles de Maronée. In: Richard Goulet (ed.): Dictionnaire des philosophes antiques . Volume 4, CNRS Éditions, Paris 2005, ISBN 2-271-06386-8 , pp. 499-501
Web links
- Laura Grams: Entry in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy .
Footnotes
- ↑ For example in Diogenes Laertios, Life and Teachings of Famous Philosophers 6,94.
- ^ Klaus Döring: Metrokles . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 304–305, here: p. 304.
- ↑ Diogenes Laertios 6.95.
- ↑ a b Cf. Diogenes Laertios, Life and Teachings of Famous Philosophers 6.95.
- ↑ See Diogenes Laertios, Life and Teachings of Famous Philosophers 6:33.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Metrokles |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Metrocles Maroneus |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Greek philosopher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 4th century BC Chr. |
| DATE OF DEATH | 3rd century BC Chr. |