ARISTIPPUS, the founder of the Cyrenaic sect, was born at Cyrene, in Africa, and flourished about 400 years Before the Christian era. Attracted to Athens by the fame of Socrates, he became the disciple of this illustrious philosopher ; but the progress which he at first made in his studies, was interrupted by the forma tion of effeminate and lascivious habits. Involved in all the expellees of licentious pleasure, he had no other resource but to commence a school of rhetoric, and to support himself by the fees of his pupils. As the dis ciples of Socrates had never before taken money for their instructions, Aristippus dreaded the displeasure of his master, and sought to avert it by sending a present of 20 mime, which Socrates refused.
Having been compelled to leave Athens by the irre gularity of his conduct, Aristippus visited the island of Egeria, where he met with the celebrated Lais, whom he accompanied to Corinth. During his passage from Corinth to Asia, he was shipwrecked on the island of Rhodes. He afterwards repaired to Syracuse, to the court of Dionysius, where he insinuated himself into the royal favour by the politeness and flexibility of his man ners. Whilst Plato refused, at the request of Dionysius, to appear at a public festival in purple robes, Aristip pus decked himself in the most gay and splendid attire, and danced with all the grace and case of a courtier.
The attention which he received from Dionysius exci ted the envy of his brethren, and was, prWably, in some measure, the cause of that odium which has been thrown upon his character. After leaving Syracuse, Aristippus returned to Athens, where lie was teaching philosophy about the year 366 before Christ.
At the solicitation of his daughter Arete, he set out for Cyrene, but he took ill on his way thither, and died at Lipara, one of the Eolian islands. Aristippus is said to have been the author of many works, but particularly, a history of Libya, several dialogues, and four books on the luxury of the ancients.
Those who wish to be acquainted with the repartees and wise sayings of Aristippus, many of which have nothing else than the merit of antiquity to recommend them, may consult Diogenes Laertius In Vit. lib. ii. ; Horace, 2 Sat. 3. v. 100 ; Id. Epist.i. 17, 23 ; Brucker's Hilt. of Philosophy, by Enfield, vol i. p. 182 ; Barthe lemy's Travels of Anacharsis, vol. iii. and Anc. Univers. -Hist. vol. viii. p. 44 ; vol..ix. p. 431, note A ; 241, note F. (o)