Menedemus the Cynic

Menedemus ( ancient Greek Μενέδημος Menedemus Latinized, Menedemus ) was a Greek philosopher of ancient. He is counted among the Cynics.

Writings of Menedemus are not preserved. Preserved are only a few antique on his life and work, what still little is known.

Life and Teaching

Since we know that Menedemus has been a contemporary of the first half of the 3rd century BC make Menippos of Gadara and Bion of Borysthenes, one can assume that he was born in the 4th century and in the 3rd century died BC.

Diogenes Laertius reports that Menedemus had initially been a pupil of the Epicurean Colotes of Lampsacus. He later but I joined a certain Echekles, a grand-disciple of the Cynic Metrokles. What Diogenes Laertius reported Menedemus ' appearance and character, was probably mistakenly transferred from Menippos on Metrokles.

After he had gone over to Cynicism, he has fought with his teacher Colotes ' literary. We know that from a corresponding response Colotes ', which has been preserved on a papyrus roll. Criticism of Menedmos is limited to issues such as the question of whether - could live painless and well a wise man with simple lens courts - such as the alleged Menedemus than Cynic. From the same source we know that Menedemus many Stoics enjoyed little prestige. Perhaps this is due to his extravagant behavior.