Cyrenaics

Abstract

The Cyrenaics were one of the “minor Socratic” schools, founded by Aristippus (fourth century BCE ), a follower of Socrates, although its theory was largely formulated by Aristippus' grandson, confusingly named Aristippus too. The Cyrenaics were hedonists ( see Hedonism)and egoists ( see Egoism well outside the mainstream of Greek ethics ( see Ancient Ethics). Later Cyrenaics argued against the more moderate hedonism of Epicurus and modified the Cyrenaic ethical doctrines. The school died out around the middle of the third century BCE .