Hellenistic philosophy
Hellenistic philosophy is the period of Western philosophy
and Middle Eastern philosophy that was developed in the
Hellenistic period following Aristotle and ending with the
beginning of Neoplatonism.
Epicurus Zeno of Plotinus
Contents Citium
Hellenistic schools of thought
Pythagoreanism
Sophism
Cynicism
Cyrenaicism
Platonism
Peripateticism
Pyrrhonism
Epicureanism
Stoicism
Academic Skepticism
Eclecticism
Hellenistic Judaism
Neopythagoreanism
Hellenistic Christianity
Neoplatonism
See also
References
External links
Hellenistic schools of thought
Pythagoreanism
Pythagoreanism is the name given to the system of philosophy and science developed by Pythagoras, which
influenced nearly all the systems of Hellenistic philosophy that followed. Two schools of Pythagorean
thought eventually developed; one based largely on mathematics and continuing his line of scientific work,
while the other focused on his metaphysical teachings, though each shared a part of the other.
Pythagoras of Croton (570–495 BC)
Hippasus (5th century BC)
Sophism
In Ancient Greece, the sophists were a category of teachers who specialized in using the tools of philosophy
and rhetoric for the purpose of teaching arete (excellence, virtue) predominantly to young statesmen and
nobility.
Protagoras (490–420 BC)
Gorgias (485–380 BC)
Antiphon (480–411 BC)
Cynicism
The Cynics were an ascetic sect of philosophers beginning with Antisthenes in the 4th century BC and
continuing until the 5th century AD. They believed that one should live a life of Virtue in agreement with
Nature. This meant rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, health, or celebrity, and living a life
free from possessions.
Antisthenes (445–365 BC)
Diogenes (412–323 BC)
Crates of Thebes (365–285 BC)
Menippus (c. 275 BC)
Demetrius (10–80 AD)
Cyrenaicism
The Cyrenaics were a hedonist school of philosophy founded in the fourth century BC by Aristippus, who
was a student of Socrates. They held that pleasure was the supreme good, especially immediate
gratifications; and that people could only know their own experiences, beyond that truth was unknowable.
Aristippus (435–360 BC)
Anniceris (flourished 300 BC)
Hegesias of Cyrene (flourished 290 BC)
Theodorus (c. 340 – c. 250 BC)
Platonism
Platonism is the name given to the philosophy of Plato, which was maintained and developed by his
followers. The central concept was the theory of forms: the transcendent, perfect archetypes, of which
objects in the everyday world are imperfect copies. The highest form was the Form of the Good, the source
of being, which could be known by reason. In the 3rd century BC, Arcesilaus adopted Academic skepticism,
which became a central tenet of the school until 90 BC when Antiochus added Stoic elements, rejecting
skepticism. With the adoption of oriental mysticism in the third century AD, Platonism evolved into
Neoplatonism.
Speusippus (407–339 BC)
Xenocrates (396–314 BC)
Antiochus of Ascalon (130–68 BC)
Plutarch (46–120 AD)
Peripateticism
The Peripatetic school was the name given to the philosophers who maintained and developed the
philosophy of Aristotle. They advocated examination of the world to understand the ultimate foundation of
things. The goal of life was the happiness which originated from virtuous actions, which consisted in
keeping the mean between the two extremes of the too much and the too little.
Aristotle (384–322 BC)
Theophrastus (371–287 BC)
Strato of Lampsacus (335–269 BC)
Alexander of Aphrodisias (c. 200 AD)
Pyrrhonism
Pyrrhonism is a school of philosophical skepticism that originated with Pyrrho in the 3rd century BC, and
was further advanced by Aenesidemus in the 1st century BC. Its objective is ataraxia (being mentally
unperturbed), which is achieved through epoché (i.e. suspension of judgment) about non-evident matters
(i.e., matters of belief).
Pyrrho (365–275 BC)
Timon of Phlius (320–230 BC)
Aenesidemus (1st century BC)
Sextus Empiricus (2nd century AD)
Epicureanism
Epicureanism was founded by Epicurus in the 3rd century BC. It viewed the universe as being ruled by
chance, with no interference from gods. It regarded absence of pain as the greatest pleasure, and advocated a
simple life. It was the main rival to Stoicism until both philosophies died out in the 3rd century AD.
Epicurus (341–270 BC)
Metrodorus (331–278 BC)
Hermarchus (325-250 BC)
Zeno of Sidon (1st century BC)
Philodemus (110–40 BC)
Lucretius (99–55 BC)
Stoicism
Stoicism was founded by Zeno of Citium in the 3rd century BC. Based on the ethical ideas of the Cynics, it
taught that the goal of life was to live in accordance with Nature. It advocated the development of self-
control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions.
Zeno of Citium (333–263 BC)
Cleanthes (331–232 BC)
Chrysippus (280–207 BC)
Panaetius (185–110 BC)
Posidonius (135–51 BC)
Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD)
Epictetus (55–135 AD)
Marcus Aurelius (121–180 AD)
Academic Skepticism
Academic skepticism is the period of ancient Platonism dating from
around 266 BC, when Arcesilaus became head of the Platonic
Academy, until around 90 BC, when Antiochus of Ascalon rejected
skepticism, although individual philosophers, such as Favorinus and
his teacher Plutarch continued to defend Academic skepticism after
this date. The Academic skeptics maintained that knowledge of
things is impossible. Ideas or notions are never true; nevertheless,
there are degrees of truth-likeness, and hence degrees of belief,
which allow one to act. The school was characterized by its attacks
on the Stoics and on the Stoic dogma that convincing impressions Zeno of Citium (333–263 BC), the
led to true knowledge. founder of Stoicism
Arcesilaus (316–232 BC)
Carneades (214–129 BC)
Cicero (106–43 BC)
Eclecticism
Eclecticism was a system of philosophy which adopted no single set of doctrines but selected from existing
philosophical beliefs those doctrines that seemed most reasonable. Its most notable advocate was Cicero.
Varro Reatinus (116–27 BC)
Cicero (106–43 BC)
Seneca the Younger (4 BC – 65 AD)
Hellenistic Judaism
Hellenistic Judaism was an attempt to establish the Jewish religious tradition within the culture and
language of Hellenism. Its principal representative was Philo of Alexandria.
Philo of Alexandria (30 BC – 45 AD)
Josephus (37–100 AD)
Neopythagoreanism
Neopythagoreanism was a school of philosophy reviving Pythagorean doctrines, which was prominent in the
1st and 2nd centuries AD. It was an attempt to introduce a religious element into Greek philosophy,
worshipping God by living an ascetic life, ignoring bodily pleasures and all sensuous impulses, to purify the
soul.
Nigidius Figulus (98–45 BC)
Apollonius of Tyana (15/40–100/120 AD)
Numenius of Apamea (2nd century AD)
Hellenistic Christianity
Hellenistic Christianity was the attempt to reconcile Christianity with Greek philosophy, beginning in the
late 2nd century. Drawing particularly on Platonism and the newly emerging Neoplatonism, figures such as
Clement of Alexandria sought to provide Christianity with a philosophical framework.
Clement of Alexandria (150–215 AD)
Origen (185–254 AD)
Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD)
Aelia Eudocia (401–460 AD)
Neoplatonism
Neoplatonism, or Plotinism, is a school of religious and mystical philosophy founded by Plotinus in the 3rd
century AD and based on the teachings of Plato and the other Platonists. The summit of existence was the
One or the Good, the source of all things. In virtue and meditation the soul had the power to elevate itself to
attain union with the One, the true function of human beings. Non-Christian Neoplatonists used to attack
Christianity until Christians such as Augustine, Boethius, and Eriugena adopt Neoplatonism.
Plotinus (205–270 AD)
Porphyry (233–309 AD)
Iamblichus of Chalcis (245–325 AD)
Proclus (412–485 AD)
See also
Alexandrian school
Ancient Greek philosophy
Ancient philosophy
Hellenistic period
Hellenistic religion
Hellenocentrism
Hundred Schools of Thought
Platonic Academy
References
A. A. Long, D. N. Sedley (eds.), The Hellenistic Philosophers (2 vols, Cambridge University
Press, 1987)
Giovanni Reale, The Systems of the Hellenistic Age: History of Ancient Philosophy (Suny
Series in Philosophy), edited and translated from Italian by John R. Catan, Albany, State of
New York University Press, 1985, ISBN 0887060080.
Scholium on Aristotle's Rhetoric, quoted in Dudley 1937, p. 5
Navia, Luis E. Classical Cynicism: A Critical Study. pg 140.
Chauí, 2010, p. 14
Chauí, 2010, p. 81
FERGUSON, John. Cosmópolis. In: A Herança do Helenismo. Lisboa: Verbo, 1973, p. 35
Abbagnano, 2014, p. 707.
Eduard Zeller, Outlines of the History of Greek Philosophy, 13th Edition
"Peripatetic philosophy" entry in Lieber, Wigglesworth & Bradford 1832, p. 22
Chauí, 2010, p. 14
Abbagnano, 2014, p. 826
Abbagnano, 2014, p. 779
https://web.archive.org/web/20150429142100/http://www.iep.utm.edu/eclectic/
Abbagnano, 2014, p. 826
"Platonism." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New York: Oxford
University Press. 2005
External links
The London Philosophy Study Guide (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/philosophy/LPSG/) offers many
suggestions on what to read, depending on the student's familiarity with the subject: Post-
Aristotelian philosophy (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/philosophy/LPSG/Post-Arist.htm)
"Readings in Hellenistic Philosophy" (http://philpapers.org/browse/6269/) on PhilPapers, edited
by Dirk Baltzly
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