Timocrates of Lampsacus ( grc-gre, Τιμοκράτης) was a renegade

Epicurean Epicureanism is a system of philosophy founded around 307 BC based upon the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus. Epicureanism was originally a challenge to Platonism. Later its main opponent became Stoicism. Few writings by Ep ...

who made it his life's mission to spread slander about Epicurus' philosophy and way of life. He was the elder brother of Metrodorus, Epicurus' best friend and most loyal follower, who was born in

Lampsacus Lampsacus (; grc, Λάμψακος, translit=Lampsakos) was an ancient Greek city strategically located on the eastern side of the Hellespont in the northern Troad. An inhabitant of Lampsacus was called a Lampsacene. The name has been transmitte ...

in the late 4th century BC. He studied with his brother in the school of Epicurus, but some time c. 290 BC, he broke with the school, apparently because he refused to accept that pleasure was the supreme good of life. The dispute became quite bitter; Philodemus quotes Timocrates saying "that he both loved his brother as no one else did and hated him as no one else." In a much quoted letter, Metrodorus, in exaggerated fashion, took Timocrates to task for not making the

stomach The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and many other animals, including several invertebrates. The stomach has a dilated structure and functions as a vital organ in the digestive system. The stomach i ...

the standard in everything relating to the prime good. Metrodorus wrote at least one work against Timocrates; and Epicurus also wrote an ''Opinions on the Passions, against Timocrates''. In response, Timocrates wrote a

polemic Polemic () is contentious rhetoric intended to support a specific position by forthright claims and to undermine the opposing position. The practice of such argumentation is called ''polemics'', which are seen in arguments on controversial topic ...

against Epicurus, whereby he claimed that Epicurus was not a genuine

Athenian Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

citizen, and that he was slovenly, weak, ignorant, rude, and

vomited Vomiting (also known as emesis and throwing up) is the involuntary, forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Vomiting can be the result of ailments like food poisoning, gastroenteri ...

twice a day from overindulgence.Diogenes Laërtius, ''Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers'', x. 6-8 His book against Epicurus, published after his apostasy, was entitled ''Delights'' (euphranta).

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*Diogenes Laërtius
''The Lives and Opinions of Famous Philosophers'', Book 10: The Life of Epicurus
at Epicurus.info {{DEFAULTSORT:Timocrates Of Lampsacus Epicurean philosophers People from Lampsacus 3rd-century BC Greek people 3rd-century BC philosophers 4th-century BC births 3rd-century BC deaths

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