Aristippus' legacy. The Development of the Cyrenaic Philosophy

Abstract

The Socratic circle produced a series of strikingly contrasting philosophies. It is difficult to reconstruct their approaches, and it is even more difficult because each line concentrates the works of many authors. We have very damaged testimonies, plenty of anecdotes and some references to doctrines but usually without evolutionary elements. In the case of the Cyrenaics, this aspect is especially perplexing, given that we have information about positions within the group along with a very vague description of the shared theoretical foundations. In this context, the determination of the origin of these opinions is highly speculative and throws us into an embarrassing situation usual in the studies of Hellenistic philosophy. We have notice of numerous authors, but we can read only a few summaries without much detail related to the group in general. This case is even more complicated because some readings on the ancient sources disseminated the idea of a late composition of the main Cyrenaic ideas. Aristippus of Cyrene, the initiator of the group, would have developed a hedonistic way of life, but not doctrines, which should be associated with a later emergence.If this is the case, the study of the Cyrenaic interaction within the Socratic group during the first generation becomes illegitimate. Moreover, any discussion about hedonism in this period would have nothing to do with the Cyrenaic roots. In what follows, we will examine the tradition that supports the idea of an Aristippus devoid of theoretical developments. On that basis, we will analyse the elements of the Cyrenaic philosophy that can be attributed to Aristippus and the motives for the innovations introduced by his grandson, Aristippus the Younger, the Metrodidact. Finally, we will suggest some ideas about the evolution of the Cyrenaics from Aristippus to his reception in Arete and the Metrodidact, Hegesias, Anniceris and Theodorus in order to discuss the belief on a mainstream line based on the proposal of Metrodidact. This analysis will exhibit the development and central tenets of the Cyrenaic philosophy highlighting its contributions to classical and Hellenistic philosophy.

Este trabajo estudia la evolución de la filosofía cirenaica, analizando los elementos que pueden atribuirse a Aristipo en el contexto de las innovaciones introducidas por su nieto, el Metrodidacta. Además, evalúa la evolución de las ideas cirenaicas entre Hegesias, Aniceris y Teodoro para discutir la idea de una línea central en el seno de la filosofía del Metrodidacta. Este análisis permitirá mostrar el desarrollo y los tópicos centrales de la filosofía cirenaica enfatizando sus contribuciones a la filosofía clásica y helenística.