Dystopic Utopia in Lucian’s Philosophical Satire

Abstract

The Hermotimus is undoubtedly the most ambitious of Lucian’s philosophical dialogues, since the author undertakes a systematic study of the best philosopher in this work. More specifically, the protagonists of this dialogue, the Stoic aspirant Hermotimos and his antidogmatic interlocutor Lykinos, seek a definite answer to the following questions: Does the true and authentic philosopher exist? If so, then where is it possible to find him, and how can he prove the excellence of his philosophical tenets? A utopian moment can be captured in nuce in these questions, for the object at the heart of the discussion assumes all the features of a desideratum which is difficult, if not impossible, to fulfil, implying an operation that is constantly exposed to the risk of being reduced to nothing.