The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers · Chapter
Lacydes explained
Lacydes of Cyrene, founder of the New Academy, succeeded Arcesilaus.
What happens
Lacydes of Cyrene, founder of the New Academy, succeeded Arcesilaus. Known for his gravity, industriousness, and sociable nature, he managed his household with a clever sealing trick that his servants eventually outwitted. He taught in the Academy's garden laid out by King Attalus, called the Lacydeum, and resigned his school to Telicles and Evander. He died of paralysis from drinking in the 134th Olympiad, having led his school for twenty-six years.
Themes in this chapter
Origins and Succession of Philosophical Schools
Lacydes founds the New Academy and resigns his school to Telicles and Evander, illustrating the succession of philosophical leadership.
Death and Legacy
Lacydes dies of paralysis from drinking after 26 years as head of his school, with a poetic epitaph reflecting on his death.
Characters to notice
- Lacydes
Founder of the New Academy, succeeded Arcesilaus; known for his gravity, industriousness, and a witty saying about statues and learning geometry late in life.
- Arcesilaus
Predecessor of Lacydes as head of the Academy.
- Carneades
Successor to Hegesinus, continuing the line after Lacydes.
Key passages
“They say that he had a pleasant way of managing his housekeeping affairs. For when he had taken anything out of his store-chest, he would seal it up again, and throw in his seal through the hole, so that it should be impossible for anything of what he had laid up there to be stolen from him or carried off.”
Lacydes had a clever method to secure his stored goods: after removing items, he would reseal the chest and drop his seal ring through the hole, thinking this would prevent theft.
Illustrates Lacydes' ingenuity and trust, which was eventually exploited by his servants.
“On another occasion, as it is reported, he was studying geometry very late in life, and some said to him: “Is it then a time for you to be learning now?”—“If it is not,” he replied, “when will it be?””
When criticized for studying geometry in old age, Lacydes retorted that if not now, then when, emphasizing the value of lifelong learning.
Highlights Lacydes' commitment to intellectual growth regardless of age.