Crates of Athens

Crates of Athens (Greek Κράτης; † 268-264 BCE in Athens ) was an ancient Greek philosopher. His home church was Thria in Athens, therefore it is also called Crates of Thria. He belonged to the Platonic Academy and served in his last years as its director ( Scholarch ).

Life and works

About Crates ' family of origin is other than the name of his father Antigenic unknown. With his teacher, the Scholarchen verger, who won it for the philosophy, he was a close friend. The two philosophers lived together on the grounds of the Academy. Politically Crates came out in the year 287, when he took over the task to visit Athens as an envoy to King Demetrius Poliorketes, who besieged the city, because they had fallen from him. It succeeded the philosopher to move Demetrios to raise the siege. After Polemons death, he took over 270 or 269 head of the Academy. This office he held until his death. He died in the 128th Olympiad ( Period 268-264 ).

Crates wrote philosophical works in addition to works on the comedy and political speeches. None of this has survived. In teaching, he was said to be a faithful keeper of the tradition that prevailed in the academy since Xenocrates and Polemon.

Reception

For Crates ' students were Arcesilaus, who as Scholarch the Academy gave a new direction later, and Bion of Borysthenes. Arkesilaos told Polemon and Crates had appeared to him like gods or remnants from the Golden Age. This remark was meant as a cautious criticism of the seclusion of the two conservative philosophers and refraining from contact with the public.