Menedemus of Pyrrha

Menedemus of Pyrrha (Greek Μενέδημος; * around 390 BC; † after 338 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher ( Platonist ).

Menedemus came from the city of Pyrrha on the island of Lesbos. He lived in Athens, where he worked in the school of philosophers, the Platonic Academy, took part in the teaching of Plato. According to Plutarch information Menedemus was sent by Plato in his hometown Pyrrha, where he was to act as constitutional legislator. Later Menedemus returned to Athens and took his activity in the academy again. Apparently he was one of the most respected members of the Academy. As Speusippos Plato's successor as Headmaster ( Scholarch ), 339/338 died and the Office of Scholarchen was to be filled by election, a candidate Menedemus against Xenocrates and Heraclides Ponticus. Xenocrates was elected by a small majority, after Heraclides and Menedemus left the academy. After retiring from the Academy Menedemus founded his own school of philosophy. An invitation of Alexander the Great is said to have refused; the credibility of these handed down by Plutarch message is skeptical, however, in research.

About the teaching of Menedemus nothing is handed down. What is known is that he used Plato's method of Dihairesis the definition, because the contemporary comedian Epicrates, who mocked the Dihairesis, mentioned him in this context.

The Neoplatonist Porphyry quoted a otherwise unknown work of Menedemus in which there was talk of Socrates.

Source output

  • François Lasserre (eds.): De Léodamas de Thasos à Philippe d' Oponte. Témoignages et fragments. Bibliopolis, Napoli, 1987, ISBN 88-7088-136-9, pp. 91-96 ( in Greek and Latin texts), 305-309 ( French translation ), 523-529 (comment)
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