Menedemus
Menedemus of Eretria (
Life
Menedemus was born at Eretria. Though of noble birth, he worked as builder and tent maker until he was sent with a military expedition to Megara, from where he travelled to the Platonic Academy in Athens and resolved to devote himself to philosophy.[3] At Megara he formed a lifelong friendship with Asclepiades of Phlius, with whom he toiled in the night that he might study philosophy by day.[4] He was subsequently a pupil first of Stilpo and then of Phaedo of Elis, whose school he transferred to Eretria, by which name it was afterwards known.[2][5]
In addition to his philosophical work, he took a leading part in the political affairs of his city from the time of the Diadochi until his death, and obtained a remission of the tribute to Demetrius. His friendship with Antigonus II Gonatas seems to have roused suspicion as to his loyalty, and he sought safety first in the temple of Amphiaraus at Oropus, and later with Antigonus, at whose court he is said to have died of grief. Other accounts say that he starved himself to death on failing to induce Antigonus to free his native city.[2]
He was sent to Pyrrha to help them with government legislation according to Plutarch.
Philosophy
His philosophical views are known only in part.
Notes
- ^ Dorandi 1999, p. 52.
- ^ a b c d public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Menedemus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 127–128. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
- ^ Laërtius says he was charmed by Plato himself, but Plato was dead by the time Menedemus was born (Laërtius 1925, § 126).
- ^ Athenaeus, iv. 168
- ^ Laërtius 1925, § 126.
- ^ Laërtius 1925, § 134-135.
- ^ Plutarch, De Virtute Morali 2
- ^ Cicero, Academica ii. 42
References
- Dorandi, Tiziano (1999). "Chapter 2: Chronology". In Algra, Keimpe; et al. (eds.). The Cambridge History of Hellenistic Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 50. ISBN 9780521250283.
- Lives of the Eminent Philosophers. Vol. 1:2. Translated by Hicks, Robert Drew(Two volume ed.). Loeb Classical Library.