Monimus

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Monimus (Greek: Μόνιμος) of Syracuse, was a Cynic philosopher who lived in the 4th century BCE.

According to Diogenes Laërtius, Monimus was the slave of a Corinthian money-changer who heard tales about Diogenes of Sinope from Xeniades, Diogenes' master. In order that he might become the pupil of Diogenes, Monimus feigned madness by throwing money around until his master discarded him. Monimus also became acquainted with Crates of Thebes.[1]

He was famous for saying that "everything is vanity."[2] According to Sextus Empiricus, Monimus was like Anaxarchus, because he "compared existing things to a scene-painting and supposed them to resemble the impressions experienced in sleep or madness."[3]

He wrote two books: On Impulses, and an Exhortation to Philosophy, and he also wrote some "serious-jests" (spoudogeloia).[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Diogenes Laërtius, vi.
  2. ^ Diogenes Laërtius, vi; compare Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, ii. 15.
  3. ^ Sextus Empiricus, Against the Logicians, 7.88.

[edit] External links

Diogenes Laërtius, Life of Monimus