1001Philosophers

Lycophron c. 425 BC – c. 380 BC

Lycophron (c. 425 BC – c. 380 BC) was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era, associated with Sophism and Ancient Greek Philosophy.

Lycophron was a Greek sophist and rhetorician of the late fifth and early fourth century BC, a pupil of Gorgias and one of the boldest political philosophers of the sophistic tradition. His writings have not survived, but his philosophical positions are preserved in the polemical reports of Aristotle's Politics and Rhetoric and in later ancient writers. Aristotle attributes to him the position that the law is a mere covenant between citizens for the prevention of mutual injury, and that nobility is the empty appearance of antiquity; both positions made him a forerunner of later contractualist political thought.

Key facts

Nationality
Greek
Era
Ancient
Movements
Sophism, Ancient Greek Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Lycophron:

    “The law is a covenant; it is the surety of mutual rights, but does not make the citizens good.”

  • Attributed to Lycophron:

    “Nobility is the splendor of antiquity, found in those who can boast a long line of ancestors.”

  • Attributed to Lycophron:

    “The state arises for the prevention of injustice, not for the perfection of the soul.”

  • Attributed to Lycophron:

    “What is by nature the same in all men cannot be raised or lowered by accident of birth.”

  • Attributed to Lycophron:

    “He who claims more than the covenant grants him is the enemy of the city.”

Frequently asked about Lycophron

When did Lycophron live?
Lycophron was born in c. 425 BC and died in c. 380 BC.
Where was Lycophron from?
Lycophron was a Greek philosopher of the Ancient era.
What philosophical movements is Lycophron associated with?
Lycophron was associated with Sophism and Ancient Greek Philosophy.
What was Lycophron known for?
Lycophron was a Greek sophist and rhetorician of the late fifth and early fourth century BC, a pupil of Gorgias and one of the boldest political philosophers of the sophistic tradition.
How many quotes are attributed to Lycophron?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Lycophron in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.