Anniceris

Anniceris of Cyrene (c. 384 – c. 306 BCE) was a Cyrenaic philosopher and a contemporary of Hegesias and Paraebates. He belonged to the Cyrenaic school of philosophy, which espoused a hedonistic ethic. He is known for his modified form of Cyrenaicism, which attempted to address criticisms leveled against the school's emphasis on individual, momentary pleasure.

While the original Cyrenaics, founded by Aristippus, held that only present pleasure is good and that pleasure is purely physical, Anniceris argued for the importance of social affection and altruism. He maintained that genuine happiness involves both physical and mental pleasures and that these are enhanced by friendship, patriotism, and family affection. He differed from Aristippus by suggesting that one should pursue pleasure even if it entails momentary pain or difficulty, if the ultimate result promises a greater degree of happiness.

Anniceris believed that wisdom and prudence were necessary for navigating life and that a wise person should be capable of suffering for the sake of friends or their country. He also argued that performing unselfish acts and cultivating relationships contributed to overall well-being. His views represented a significant departure from the more egoistic and purely sensual hedonism of earlier Cyrenaics.

Our knowledge of Anniceris's philosophy comes primarily from later writers, particularly Diogenes Laërtius, who provides a summary of his doctrines in his Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers. Although no writings by Anniceris himself survive, the secondary accounts suggest a complex and nuanced philosophical position within the Cyrenaic tradition.