Contents

Anniceris

Anniceris was a disciple of Parabates, and a fellow student of Hegesias. The Suda says he lived at the time of Alexander the Great (ruled 336–323 BC).^[1] Diogenes Laertius tells a story that Anniceris ransomed Plato from Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, for twenty minas.^[2] This may possibly refer to an earlier Anniceris, possibly the celebrated charioteer mentioned by Aelian.^[3][4]

Anniceris denied that pleasure was merely the absence of pain, for if so death would be a pleasure; and furthermore he denied that pleasure is the general goal of human life. To each separate action, there is a particular end, namely the pleasure which actually results from it.^[4] He differed from Aristippus because he allowed that friendship, patriotism, and similar virtues, were good in themselves; saying that the wise person will derive pleasure from such qualities, even though they cause occasional trouble, and that a friend should be chosen not only for our own need, but for kindness and natural affection.

He also denied that reason (Greek: ὁ λόγος) alone can secure us from error; the wise person is the person who has acquired a habit of wise action; human wisdom is liable to lapses at any moment.^[4][5]

The Annicerean (Ἀννικέρειος) sect originated from him.^[6]

^ ^{a b c}  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Anniceris". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 74.

•  Laërtius, Diogenes (1925). "Socrates, with predecessors and followers: Anniceris (subsection of Aristippus)" . Lives of the Eminent Philosophers. Vol. 1:2. Translated by Hicks, Robert Drew (Two volume ed.). Loeb Classical Library.
•  Laërtius, Diogenes (1925b). "Plato" . Lives of the Eminent Philosophers. Vol. 1:3. Translated by Hicks, Robert Drew (Two volume ed.). Loeb Classical Library.