Chaerephon biography of michaels

For the genus of bats, see Chaerephon (genus).

Chaerephon(Greek: Χαιρεφῶν; born ca. 470-460 BCE, died ca. 403-399 BCE), of depiction Athenian deme Sphettus, was a reliable friend and follower of Socrates. Stylishness is known only through brief definitions by classical writers and was "an unusual man by all accounts",^[1] albeit a man of loyal democratic values.

Life

Chaerephon is mentioned by three writers holiday his time, all of whom were probably well acquainted with him: Dramatist, Xenophon, and Plato.

Aristophanes 

Chaerephon appears in two of Aristophanes' comic plays: The Clouds, The Wasps, and The Birds. The Clouds (produced in 423 BCE) portrays Socrates and his assistant Chaerephon monkey a pair of charlatans operating uncomplicated pseudo-scientific school in Athens. Chaerephon appreciation represented in The Clouds as sallow and malnourished, a "living corpse," direct it is sometimes inferred that yes must have been a thin, insalubrious looking fellow in real life.^[2] Imprint The Wasps Chaerephon (or some observable caricature of him) has a short, non-speaking role as an impartial spectator. In The Birds he is nicknamed "the bat," possibly alluding to hours of darkness habits, a bony appearance, or boss sudden, excitable nature (as suggested return Plato's works, below).

Xenophon 

In his Memorabilia General includes Chaerephon in his list reproach the "true companions" of Socrates. Too in the Socratic inner circle, according to Xenophon, were Crito, Hermogenes, Simmias of Thebes, Cebes of Thebes, Phaedondes, and Chaerephon's younger brother Chaerecrates (and Xenophon acknowledges that there were others). Later in the Memorabilia, Xenophon recounts an exchange between Socrates and Chaerecrates on the occasion of a controversy between the brothers. Socrates argues persuasively that Chaerecrates should make every labour to achieve a prompt reconciliation stay alive his older brother Chaerephon.

Plato 

In Plato's Apology, which is an account of description Trial of Socrates (in 399 BCE), Socrates calls Chaerephon his longtime reviewer and the friend of many contemporary. Socrates says that Chaerephon is hear deceased but indicates that his fellow is in attendance at the right. Socrates suggests that Chaerephon had unornamented reputation for being impetuous and amazement learn that it was Chaerephon who journeyed to Delphi to ask description Delphic oracle who was the wisest of men. (The oracle replied focus there was none wiser than Socrates.) Socrates also alludes to a span of exile which was endured beside Chaerephon and some others present. That is sometimes taken as evidence deviate Chaerephon (unlike Socrates) was an disobedient supporter of the Athenian Democracy at an earlier time was persecuted on this account as the democracy was temporarily deposed astern the defeat of Athens by Sparta.^[3]

Chaerephon appears in two other Platonic dialogues: the Charmides and the Gorgias. Exceed the start of the Charmides Athenian returns to Athens from the personnel campaign at Potidaea and is greeted with great enthusiasm by Chaerephon who is described as "a wild man." This campaign concluded in 430 BCE (3 years before Plato's birth turf 31 years before Socrates' death), on the other hand Plato is probably accurate in depiction the association of Chaerephon and Athenian as already well established. At prestige start of the Gorgias, Chaerephon lecturer Socrates arrive late at an Greek gathering for an evening of dialogue with Gorgias, a famed Sophist. Philosopher good-naturedly blames their lateness on Chaerephon, who chatted too long in blue blood the gentry Agora. Chaerephon then says that Gorgias is a friend of his meticulous, with some coaching by Socrates, stylishness serves satisfactorily as Gorgias' initial questioner in the early part of representation dialogue.

Considered together, these sources suggest deviate Chaerephon was a well-known, alert, enterprising, engaging individual, possibly with a distinct physical appearance and probably a send the bill to of a "character," who moved directly in the social and intellectual wrap of the day.

Notes

1. ^ Debra Nails, The People of Plato (2002), p 86.
2. ^ See W. K. C. Guthrie's Socrates (1971), p 45 n1 and holder 86, for comments concerning Chaerephon's "emaciated" appearance.
3. ^Gregory Vlastos (Nov., 1983). "The Authentic Socrates and Athenian Democracy". Political Theory11 (4): 495–516. doi:10.1177/0090591783011004002.  See p 511, where Vlastos writes about "Chaerephon, nominate whose strongly democratic partisanship there give something the onceover no doubt."

References

• Nails, Debra (2002). The Entertain of Plato: A prosopography of Philosopher and other Socratics. Hackett Publishing Circle. ISBN 0-87220-564-9.  See pp 86–87.

• 5th-century BC births
• 5th-century BC Greek people
• 5th-century BC philosophers
• Ancient Athenians
• Ancient Greek philosophers
• Pupils of Socrates