# Menedemus of Eretria — The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers character guide

> Menedemus of Eretria in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laërtius.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Eretria

**First appearance:** 0032-menedemus

## Snapshot

Founder of the Eretrian school, a philosopher whose letters reveal the anxiety of doing metaphysics under the shadow of Persian conquest.

## Who they are

Menedemus of Eretria establishes his own school and is remembered through letters that expose the precariousness of Greek intellectual life, as when Anaximenes writes to Pythagoras that he cannot contemplate the skies while fearing death or slavery. His thought circles around air and the Infinite, and he insists the stars move around rather than under the earth. He represents the provincial philosopher whose doctrines survive mainly through the networks of pupils and correspondents Diogenes traces.

## In the story

### [Aeschines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/aeschines)

Calumniated Aeschines, claiming he stole dialogues from Xanthippe.

### [Phaedo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/phaedo)

Menedemus succeeded Plistanus and became the founder of the Eretrian school, continuing the philosophical lineage from Phaedo.

### [Menedemus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/menedemus)

Central figure of the chapter; a severe, disputatious philosopher who founded the Eretrian school, known for his freedom of speech, simple habits, and deep friendship with Asclepiades.

### [Bion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/bion)

Mentioned in an anecdote about Bion's shameless associate Betion spending evenings with Bion.

### [Crates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/crates)

Allegedly dragged Crates by the feet after Crates touched his thighs, leading Crates to quote a line of poetry.

### [Metrocles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/metrocles)

Pupil of Metrocles, mentioned as a later successor.

### [Menedemus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/menedemus)

Disciple of Colotes of Lampsacus, known for his superstitious behavior and distinctive attire resembling a fury.

### [Dionysius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/dionysius)

One of Dionysius's teachers after Alexinus.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/menedemus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters