When1: -399
When2: -250
Who: Cyrenaic or Hedonistic
What: philosophic school
Where: Cyrene, Libya
Detail: Aristippus founded it based on his grandfather Aristippus of Cyrene's ideas. School had followers of Socrates and included Theodorus, Anniceris, Hegesius, Euemerus, and Bion. It led to Epicurean School.
Epistemology
The only worthy knowledge is what leads to happiness. People can know only immediate sense qualities. Past and future only cause doubt or worry.
Ethics
Sensual pleasure is the highest good, because organisms all try to gain pleasure and stay away from pain, pleasure is will satisfaction, and pleasure is life's main purpose. Pleasure is "smooth motion of flesh". Greatest will satisfaction happens when will gratifies senses in the present.
Education helps people select pleasures that have minimum present and future pain, enjoy the highest refined pleasures, and control desires. People should act so they are not slaves to pleasure and should feel detachment while enjoying pleasure. Educated people need no laws or morals as guides but enjoy what is available without needing anything else.
The highest good is a cheerful frame of mind, leading to friendship, family, and society, which have little pain. Momentary and bodily pleasures have future pain. Religion interferes with pleasure and is ancestor and hero worship. Responsibility for others and community is not important.
Social Sciences>Philosophy>History>Ethics
Outline of Knowledge Database Home Page
Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0224