Xenocrates and Ethics

Although Xenocrates prided himself on his love of ethics and it was known as one of his main areas of study, there is very little about Xenocrates ethics. He first endeavored to work and add to Plato’s work but make it more applicable and more accessible. He clearly defined good and bad and that which was not good or bad. Along with the philosophers before him, he considered the good to be something of value that one should always be trying to obtain. The bad was of no value and to be avoided. That which was not good or bad should not be trying to be obtained but does not need to be avoided either. However, this that is neither good or bad will begin to work for the good or bad, depending on the type of purpose it is being used for.

Xenocrates however, did not find superficial things such as beauty, grace, and good luck things which had enormous value and should constantly be striven for but he did not see them as bad objects either. He then decided to place them in the intermediate category where they can be good or bad but if the object is used improperly, the good will turn into bad and therefore, the bad will turn into good.

Xenocrates always brought the focus onto virtue alone as the one most valuable thing and that everything else is dependant on other factors. By this theory, happiness should come along with virtue however, how it fits into life as humans is that there is one condition on the theory. This condition is that the happiness can only be enjoyed in the presence of good things for which it was intended. However, sensuous gratification is not applicable to these good things.

Xenocrates’ theory was that to hold true virtue, one would also hold true happiness. He also believed that intellect, as we know it as scientific, or the understanding of theories, is the kind of wisdom that humans should be trying to obtain. He declared that it was moral thought and moral excellence, that was the true wisdom that is worthy of being striven after for. Xenocrates was very interested in morals and even spoke out about keeping children away from immoral speeches.

Because Xenocrates was known for his love of ethics, there is quite a bit written and still discussed today about his view of the subject. However, we have almost none of this firsthand as there is very little left of his writing.