ARISTIPPUS, of CYRENE, Greek philosopher, born (d: 360 BCE); Well…you know…you get that far back in the calendar, and…there’s just no way of knowing precise dates of comings and goings. Aristippus of Cyrene was the founder of the Cyrenaic school of Philosophy. He was a pupil of Socrates, but adopted a very different philosophical outlook, teaching that the goal of life was to seek pleasure by adapting oneself to circumstances and by maintaining proper control over both adversity and prosperity.

Aristippus held that the highest purpose and virtue was the pursuit of pleasure. And wouldn’t you just know that the founder of hedonism would be Gay as a goose, history having recorded the name of his favorite, Eutichydes, who assuredly must have kept Aristippus good and virtuous and pleasured.