Theodoros of Cyrene (philosopher)

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Theodoros of Cyrene ( ancient Greek Θεόδωρος Theódōros , Latinized Theodorus ; * probably before 335 BC in Cyrene ; † probably after 270 BC in Cyrene) or Theodoros Atheos ("Theodoros the godless") was a Greek ancient philosopher who is attributed to the Cyrenaic .

Theodoros had to leave Cyrene and stayed temporarily in Athens . There he was charged with the Areopagus for denying the existence of the popular gods. Theodoros later served Ptolemy I and returned to his hometown in old age.

As a member of the Cyrenean school, pleasure was the highest good for him, although not physical pleasure, but mental pleasure. Theodoros considered social conventions to be unimportant; for example, murder and adultery are not condemned by nature, but merely because of general prejudice. In addition, Theodoros took the cosmopolitan view that a wise man would not sacrifice himself for the fatherland, since the world was the real fatherland for him. The epithet "the atheist " seems to have been rightly attributed to Theodoros. According to Plutarch , Theodoros denied the existence of the immortal; Cicero even describes him as a corrupter of the Greeks' opinion of the gods.

Life

According to Eusebius of Caesarea , Theodoros' heyday falls in 309 BC. From the report of Diogenes Laertios one can conclude that the young Theodorus was banished from Cyrene. End of the 4th century BC He is said to have been accused of godlessness ( Asebie ) in Athens , and it is possible that he was later banished from there. The statement that he was convicted and executed in Athens is certainly considered to be false. Theodoros later stayed in Alexandria at the court of Ptolemy I, who is said to have sent him to Lysimachus in Thrace for unknown reasons . Possibly he had contacts with the Megaric Stilpon and the Cynic Hipparchia . At the end of his life he is said to have gone back to Cyrene, where he is said to have been in high regard with King Magas . Based on ancient evidence, it is assumed that Theodoros was born before 335 BC. And was born in the 260s BC at the earliest. Died.

Theodoros' possible teachers were Aristippus the Younger , Annikeris and Dionysius of Chalcedon (further details in the Suda are probably incorrect). Possible pupils of Theodoros were Bion von Borysthenes , Callimachos and an otherwise unknown Lysimachos.

Teaching

See also: Teaching of the Cyrenaists

The claim that Theodoros did not write any scriptures is probably wrong. Possibly one of his writings was called About the Gods ( Perì Theṓn ). In some cases it is difficult and often impossible to distinguish between the contributions of the various Cyrenaists to the Cyrenaic doctrine, since the ancient reports often refer to "the Cyrenaics" as a whole. Here views are shown that are expressly attributed to Theodoros.

Mental pleasure as the highest good

In contrast to the earlier Cyrenaics, for Theodoros it was not physical but spiritual pleasure ( chará ) that was the highest good . He saw mental pain ( lýpē ) as the greatest evil . In between are physical pleasure ( hedonḗ ) and physical pain ( pónos ), regardless of value . In order to achieve spiritual pleasure, it is necessary to use insight ( phrónēsis ) as a means. In this respect, insight is also a good, but - like justice - only a relative one.

Social conventions

Theodoros saw the social do's and don'ts as not rooted in nature, but as mere social conventions . These do not apply to the discerning wise man, which is why theft, adultery and temple robbery are permitted when opportunities arise. The purpose of introducing social norms is to discipline the crowd of the incomprehensible. The essential goal is mental pleasure. If the mental well-being is endangered by converts, it is better to adhere to the applicable rules.

Friendship is worthless

In contrast to earlier Cyrenaists, Theodoros denies friendship any value. So it would have no value for the sage because they lived self-sufficient and needed no friends; for the incomprehensible it is exclusively a means to an end (for sensations of pleasure) and therefore has no - even relative - value for them.

atheism

Theodoros has spoken out vehemently against the existence of gods, hence his nickname "the godless" ( ho átheos ). More detailed information on Theodoros' atheism has not survived.

Cosmopolitanism

The wise man does not feel he belongs to any particular community; his home is the cosmos. This cosmopolitan view also forbids the discerning person from military service for the country in which one happens to live.

Suicide

Probably directed against the Stoics around Zeno of Kition , Theodoros denies that there is any reason for the wise man to commit suicide. If you despise external accidents anyway, you don't need to take them as an opportunity to kill yourself.

Lore

The doxographer Diogenes Laertios , who worked in the 3rd century, reports most extensively on Theodoros. In addition to other reports that can be found in various authors, Theodoros can be found in numerous lists of atheists, for example in authors such as Cicero, but also in later Christian works.

Source collection

literature

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Eusebius of Caesarea, Chronik , in the edition by R. Helm on p. 127.
  2. ^ A b Diogenes Laertios, On the life and teachings of famous philosophers 2,103.
  3. ^ A b Diogenes Laertios, On the life and teachings of famous philosophers 2,101.
  4. ^ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of Famous Philosophers 2,102.
  5. ↑ See Diogenes Laertios, About the life and teachings of famous philosophers 2,100; 2.116; 6.97f.
  6. ↑ The whole section follows Klaus Döring: Theodoros Atheos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity . Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 261–264, here: pp. 261–262.
  7. ↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of Famous Philosophers 2.86 and 2.98.
  8. ↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of Famous Philosophers 4,52.
  9. ^ A b Klaus Döring: Theodoros Atheos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity . Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 261–264, here: p. 262.
  10. ↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of Famous Philosophers 1:16.
  11. ↑ See Diogenes Laertios, On the life and teachings of famous philosophers 1.97.
  12. ↑ Klaus Döring: Aristipp the Elder. and his grandson of the same name . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity . Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 246-257, here: pp. 246 and 250-252.
  13. ↑ The presentation follows Klaus Döring: Theodoros Atheos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity . Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 259–261, here: pp. 261–264, here: pp. 263–264.
  14. ↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of Famous Philosophers, 2.98.
  15. ↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of Famous Philosophers 2.99.
  16. ↑ See Diogenes Laertios, On the Life and Teachings of Famous Philosophers 2.93 and 2.98.
  17. ↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the Life and Teachings of Famous Philosophers, 2.91 and 2.93; Epiphanios of Salamis , Panarion (medicine cabinet) 9,28,3.
  18. ↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the Lives and Teachings of Famous Philosophers 2.86 and 2.97.
  19. ↑ Diogenes Laertios, On the life and teachings of famous philosophers 2,98f .; Epiphanios of Salamis, Panarion (medicine cabinet) 9,28,3.
  20. ↑ Johannes Stobaios , Florilegium 4,52,16.
  21. ^ Klaus Döring: Theodoros Atheos . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity . Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 261–264, here: p. 261.
personal data
SURNAME Theodorus of Cyrene
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Theodorus of Cyrene; Theodoros Atheos; Theodorus Atheus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek philosopher
DATE OF BIRTH before 335 BC Chr.
PLACE OF BIRTH unsure: Cyrene
DATE OF DEATH after 270 BC Chr.
Place of death unsure: Cyrene