Editing Metrocles

{{Short description|Cynic philosopher}}
{{For|the genus of butterfly|Metrocles (skipper)}}
{{Infobox philosopher
| name             = Metrocles of Maroneia
| native_name      =  Μητροκλῆς
| image            = 
| caption          = 
| birth_date       = c. 350 BC
| birth_place      = [[Maroneia]], [[Thrace]]
| death_date       = c. 280 BC
| death_place      = 
| region           = [[Western philosophy]]
| spouse           = 
| era              = [[Hellenistic philosophy]]
| school_tradition = [[Cynicism (philosophy)|Cynicism]]
| main_interests   = 
| notable_ideas    = 
| influences       = [[Crates of Thebes]]
| influenced       = 
}}

'''Metrocles''' ({{langx|grc|Μητροκλῆς}}; fl. c. 325 BC) was a [[Cynicism (philosophy)|Cynic]] [[philosopher]] from [[Maroneia]]. He studied in [[Aristotle]]’s [[Lyceum]] under [[Theophrastus]], and eventually became a follower of [[Crates of Thebes]], who married Metrocles’ sister [[Hipparchia of Maroneia|Hipparchia]]. Very little survives of his writings, but he is important as one of the first Cynics to adopt the practice of writing moral [[anecdotes]] (''chreiai'') about [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]] and other Cynics.

==Life==
The supposed story of Metrocles' conversion to [[Cynicism (philosophy)|Cynic]]ism is reported by [[Diogenes Laërtius]].<ref name="diog94">Diogenes Laërtius, vi. 94</ref> Metrocles had apparently [[flatulence|farted]] while practicing a speech, and became so upset that he shut himself up in his home, attempting to commit suicide by [[starving]] himself. [[Crates of Thebes|Crates]] visited him and made him a dinner of [[lupin beans|lupines]],<ref>Lupin beans were notorious for causing flatulence.</ref> explaining to him that what he had done was according to nature and therefore nothing to be ashamed of. When Crates himself farted to demonstrate how natural it was, Metrocles was persuaded to let go of his shame.

Whether or not this story is true, the [[symbol]]ism for the Cynics is that it demonstrated the worthlessness of Metrocles' education up until that time. As a pupil of [[Theophrastus]] he may have learned a lot of information, but he was still obsessed with social conventions and good manners, to the point of being ready to die from embarrassment.  With Crates' help he was able to let go of his old ways and embrace a Cynic life free from convention, and find true [[happiness]].

Equally significant is a passage preserved in the writings of [[Teles the Cynic|Teles]], who tells how Metrocles as a young student of the [[Lyceum]] and the [[Platonic Academy|Academy]] could not keep up with the extravagant life-style requirements:
<blockquote>When he was studying with Theophrastus and Xenocrates, although many things were being sent to him from home, he was in constant fear of dying from hunger and was always destitute and in want. But when he later changed over to Crates, he could feed even another person though nothing was sent from home. For in the former case he had to have shoes,... then a cloak, a following of slaves, and a grand house; for the common table he had to see that the breads were pure, the delicacies above the ordinary, the wine sweet, the entertainment appropriate, so that here there was much expense.  For among them such a way of life was judged to be 'liberal.'<ref>Teles, ''Fragment 4a'', quoted in David A. Holgate (1999), ''Prodigality, Liberality and Meanness in the Parable of the Prodigal Son'', page 151. Continuum International. and in J. Bryant, (1996), ''Moral Codes and Social Structure in Ancient Greece'', page 525. SUNY Press.</ref></blockquote>

According to [[Hecato of Rhodes]], Metrocles burned all his writings, but others said it was only the notes he took in the school of Theophrastus that he burned.<ref name="diog95">Diogenes Laërtius, vi. 95</ref> It may have been via Metrocles that his sister [[Hipparchia of Maroneia|Hipparchia]] met Crates, whom she later married, thus also becoming a Cynic. [[Plutarch]] represents Metrocles as sleeping in the winter amongst [[sheep]], and in the summer in the porches of [[Greek temple|temples]].<ref>Plutarch, ''[[Moralia]]''</ref> He apparently knew the [[Megarian school|Megarian]] philosopher [[Stilpo]] and disputed with him,<ref>Plutarch, ''De Tranquilliate Animi'', vi. 468</ref> and Stilpo wrote a dialogue called ''Metrocles''.<ref>Diogenes Laertius, ii. 120</ref> In his biography of Metrocles, Diogenes Laërtius seemingly lists a number of his pupils,<ref name="diog95"/> but the list probably refers to Crates.<ref>R. Bracht Branham, Marie-Odile Goulet-Cazé, (2000), ''The Cynics: The Cynic Movement in Antiquity and Its Legacy'', page 398. Cf. page 392 pointing out that Diogenes Laertius vi. 98 also returns to the biography of Crates.</ref> Metrocles died at a great age, and is said to have deliberately [[suffocated]] himself.<ref name="diog95"/>

==Writings==
Metrocles was a man of great ability,<ref name="diog94"/> and wrote several works, but little of his thought survives. He objected to [[wealth]] unless it was put to good use; and he divided things into those that can be bought with [[money]] (such as a [[house]]), and those that take time and care, like [[education]].<ref name="diog95"/> One of his works was called ''[[Chreia]]i'' ({{langx|el|Χρεῖαι}}), that is, ''Anecdotes'', or ''Maxims''. Thus he became one of the first to contribute to the most important literary art-form for the Cynics: thousands of anecdotes were accumulated (and invented) concerning [[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], [[Crates of Thebes|Crates]] and other Cynics, all of them providing moral messages through the actions of the Cynics. An anecdote written by Metrocles concerning Diogenes is preserved by Laërtius:
<blockquote>On one occasion Diogenes went with his head half-shaved into an entertainment of young men, as Metrocles tells us in his ''Chreiai'', and so was beaten by them. And afterwards he wrote the names of all those who had beaten him, on a white tablet, and went about with the tablet round his neck, so as to expose them to insult, as they were generally condemned and reproached for their conduct.<ref>Diogenes Laërtius, vi. 33</ref></blockquote>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite LotEP |chapter=Metrocles}}

==External links==
*Grams, Laura. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20130518070903/http://www.iep.utm.edu/metrocle Metrocles]". [[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]. (Internet Archive)

{{Cynics}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Metrocles}}
[[Category:4th-century BC Greek philosophers]]
[[Category:Metic philosophers in Classical Athens]]
[[Category:Ancient Thracian Greeks]]
[[Category:Cynic philosophers]]
[[Category:Hellenistic-era philosophers in Athens]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]
[[Category:Suicides in ancient Greece]]
[[Category:3rd-century BC Greek people]]
[[Category:People from Maroneia]]