Aristippus

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For the medieval Sicilian translator, scholar, and courtier, see Henry Aristippus.

Aristippus (c. 435-366 B.C.) was a Greek philosopher born in Cyrene in Africa. He was evidently well-known as a follower of Socrates, since Plato in the Phaedo -- his account of Socrates' last day -- makes an inquirer express surprise at the report that Aristippus was not at Socrates' side when the latter was executed; it turned out that Aristippus happened to be away, on the island of Aegina with another of Socrates' associates Cleombrotus. Aristippus goes otherwise unmentioned in Plato's dialogues, though he does appear in Xenophon's writings. According to Aeschines Socraticus, Aristippus was originally attracted to Athens "because of Socrates' fame".

Diogenes Laertius relates a number of stories involving Aristippus at the court of Dionysius or Dionysius the Younger.

Either Aristippus himself or his grandson Aristippus was the founder of the Cyrenaic school, which endorsed hedonism and egoism. The elder Aristippus' daughter Arete of Cyrene was said to have been a philosopher herself, who educated the younger Aristippus, who was consequently nicknamed Mētrodidactus or "Mother-Taught".

None of the writings of either Aristippus has survived.