CYRENAIC—Another school of Philosophy, formed from amongst those who had come under the sway of Socrates. Its founder was Aristippus of Cyrene, who was attracted to Athens by the fame of Socrates (Diog. Laert., lib. II.). Under his guidance the thought and practice of the school tended in the contrary direction from that of the Cynics, exalting pleasure as the desirable, not as if escape from pain were enough, but making attainment of pleasure by direct effort, guided by regard to the known consequences of actions, the end of life.
| While at the opposite pole from asceticism, it still insisted on the need for self-regulation as a necessary condition for happiness in life. On account of the prominence given to enjoyment, the school favoured in some measure a sceptical tendency in thought, along with self-indulgence in practice. The historic relations connect the Cyrenaics with the Epicureans of later days (Zeller, Philosophy of the Greeks, Soc. and the Socrat. Schools, Reichel, ch. XIV.). |
