Antisthenes, Ancient Greek Philosopher
Antisthenes (445 - 365 BC) was a Greek philosopher and a pupil of Socrates. He first learned rhetoric under Gorgias before becoming an ardent disciple of Socrates. He adopted and developed the ethical side of Socrates' teachings, advocating an ascetic life lived in accordance with virtue. Like his friend Socrates, Antisthenes believed virtue (1) could be taught and (2) was all one needed for happiness. Later writers regarded him as the founder of Cynic philosophy. For the Cynics, the purpose of life was to live in virtue, in agreement with nature. As reasoning creatures, people could gain happiness by rigorous training and by living in a way which was natural for humans, rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, sex, and fame. Instead, they were to lead a simple life free from all possessions. He possessed considerable powers of wit and sarcasm, and was fond of playing upon words. One of his surviving quotes was, "I would rather fall among crows (korakes) than flatterers (kolakes), for the one devour the dead, but the other the living." Engraving from "The History of Philosophy" by Thomas Stanley published in three successive volumes between 1655 and 1661.
Size: 2846px × 4200px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: -, 365, 445, 4th, 5th, ancient, antiquity, antisthenes, art, artwork, ascetic, asceticism, bc, bce, bw, century, cynic, drawing, engraving, famous, figure, founder, greek, historic, historical, history, illustration, important, male, man, men, notable, people, person, personalities, personality, philosopher, philosophy, portrait, pupil, socrates, stanley, thomas, western
