Anaxarchus

Anaxarch ( ancient Greek Ἀνάξαρχος Anáxarchos; * ca 360 BC in Abdera, Thrace, † 320 BC) was a Greek philosopher, who belonged to the school of Democritus.

Life

Anaxarch was born in Abdera in Thrace. He was a friend of Alexander the Great and accompanied him on his campaigns in Asia. About Anaxarchs life and his teachings handed down by Diogenes Laertius anecdotes are mainly obtained which highlight his extraordinary fortitude and peace of mind. Although its historical accuracy can be checked in detail hardly, however, they have the lasting image Anaxarchs so marked that it can not be put aside simply because of their literary effect. So shall the philosopher in response to Alexander's claim to be a son of Zeus, have pointed to a bleeding wound of Alexander and said, " This is the blood of a mortal and not Ichor as it flows from the veins of the immortal gods " - the second part of the sentence is a quote from the Iliad.

At a banquet of the king Nicocreon of Salamis (Cyprus) to Anaxarch this on the question of how he liked the performances, have responded too frank, it lacked just that the head "of a certain satrap " would be served, in which he pointed to Nicocreon. As the latter then the philosopher was pounding in a mortar to death, is said to have endured the torture without pain cries and only said: "Destroy the body of Anaxarch, Anaxarch yourself you will not destroy ". As Nicocreon then commanded the philosopher tear out the tongue, Anaxarchs bit her off, so the tyrant could not even halt it. This death Anaxarchs became very well known through the references in Cicero and Valerius Maximus and up to modern times often cited as an example of extreme fortitude.

Works

Anaxarchs philosophical views and teachings are not known. His surname εὐδαιμονικός ( eudaimonikós " the Blissful " ) but is partially interpreted to the effect that he saw as ethical life goal ( telos ) happiness (Greek eudaimonia ). In addition, it can be assumed because of the anecdotes that the ideal of unshakable peace of mind ( cf. ataraxia ) played a great role for him. Valerius Maximus calls him as a follower of the doctrine of Democritus, that there are infinitely many worlds give.