The present article aims to reconstruct some political consequences of aristippean philosophy in the light of fragment FS , 570 (= SSR , IV.A.163 = Memorabilia , II.1.1–17) in order to show how Aristippus’ agreement with Socrates’ remarks fits the Cyrus composed by Xenophon in his Cyropaedia . In pursuance of this, I will review Aristippus’ ethics and will show how, despite the opposition with his hedonistic principles for a pleasureable life, Aristippus accepts that a good ruler needs to be a enkratic one—althouth he argues that pursuing any rule is senselessness. After showing how it is possible to recognice some hedonistic position in Adeimantus’ question at the beginning of Republic , IV, I will present the enkratic character of Cyrus. Finally, I will conclude pointing out the political continuities between Aristippus’ acceptance in FS , 570 and the ideal of ruler constructed by Xenophon.

Aristippus | Xenophon | Cyropaedia | ruler | enkráteia