Anaxarchus c. 380 BC – c. 320 BC
Anaxarchus (c. 380 BC – c. 320 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Skepticism and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
Anaxarchus of Abdera was a Greek philosopher of the late fourth century BC, a Democritean who accompanied Alexander the Great on his eastern campaigns and the principal teacher of Pyrrho of Elis. The fragments of his work, preserved in Diogenes Laertius and elsewhere, show him reasoning along skeptical and atomistic lines, comparing the world to a stage-painting and arguing for an impassivity of mind in the face of fortune that influenced both Pyrrhonism and the Stoic ideal of apatheia. According to ancient anecdote, he endured being pounded in a mortar by the tyrant Nicocreon of Cyprus by remarking that one was pounding only the bag of Anaxarchus, not Anaxarchus himself.
Key facts
- Nationality
- Greek
- Era
- Ancient
- Movements
- Skepticism, Ancient Greek Philosophy
Selected quotes
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Attributed to Anaxarchus:
“Pound the bag of Anaxarchus; you do not pound Anaxarchus himself.”
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Attributed to Anaxarchus:
“The world is a stage-painting; what we take for solid form is a play of light and shadow.”
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Attributed to Anaxarchus:
“Nothing is certainly known; the wise man holds his judgments lightly.”
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Attributed to Anaxarchus:
“Fortune cannot harm what does not lend itself to be harmed.”
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Attributed to Anaxarchus:
“Equanimity is the longest reach of philosophy; without it, none of the rest is of use.”
Frequently asked about Anaxarchus
- When did Anaxarchus live?
- Anaxarchus was born in c. 380 BC and died in c. 320 BC.
- Where was Anaxarchus from?
- Anaxarchus was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era.
- What philosophical movements is Anaxarchus associated with?
- Anaxarchus was associated with Skepticism and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
- What was Anaxarchus known for?
- Anaxarchus of Abdera was a Greek philosopher of the late fourth century BC, a Democritean who accompanied Alexander the Great on his eastern campaigns and the principal teacher of Pyrrho of Elis.
- How many quotes are attributed to Anaxarchus?
- There are 5 attributed quotations from Anaxarchus in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.