The Peripatetic school functioned under the direction of Lyco of Troas for over forty-four years, beginning around 269 BC. A student of Strato and an associate of the dialectician Panthoides, this Greek philosopher maintained a prominent role within the scholarly circles of Pergamon, navigating the political interests of local rulers and foreign monarchs alike.
Leadership and Scholarly Life
Lyco succeeded Strato as the head of the Peripatetic school, a position he held from approximately 268 BC until 224 BC. His residence at Pergamon placed him under the patronage of Eumenes I and Attalus I. During this period, he became noted for his eloquence and his ability to provide service to the Athenian state on various occasions. His professional conduct included a public rivalry with fellow philosopher Hieronymus of Rhodes.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Physical and Educational Philosophy
Contemporary accounts described Lyco as a man who valued physical discipline as much as intellectual rigor. He maintained a robust physique through consistent athletic training and competitions. His pedagogical approach involved a strict emphasis on modesty and competitive drive for students, whom he compared to horses requiring a bridle and spur. Biographers noted his penchant for clean, delicate clothing, suggesting a man who curated his appearance as carefully as his rhetoric.
Literary Contributions
While many of his works are lost, historical evidence indicates he wrote on the nature of animals, as noted by Apuleius. Other references in the writings of Cicero and Clement of Alexandria suggest he authored a treatise regarding the boundaries of good and evil. He is also associated with a work on characters, and his final will and testament was documented in its entirety by Diogenes Laertius.
Fast facts
- Born: 299 BC
- Died: 225 BC
- Occupation: Philosopher
- School: Peripatetic
- Tenure as Scholarch: 268-224 BC
- Notable student: Aristo of Ceos
- Cause of death: Gout
- Age at death: 74
Questions readers ask
What was the nature of Lyco's rivalry with Hieronymus of Rhodes?
Historical records indicate they were bitter rivals, though specific details regarding the origin or content of their conflict are not preserved.
Did Lyco's written works survive to the present?
No, his original manuscripts are lost. Much of what is known about his thought comes from fragments preserved by later writers like Rutilius Lupus and citations in the works of Cicero and Clement of Alexandria.
Achievements
- Fields: philosophy