Ancient philosophy. Some thoughts about Aristotle and Alexander of Macedon /part 5/

Let's go back to the episode with Klit.

Kalisfen turned to the king in very short and gracious words. However, Alexander did not love him, and he did not hesitate to reproach him, and it was rather harsh. At the same time, Kalisfen's proximity to the king and the impeccable reputation of his reputation made him great envy. And here comes a moment when Alexander began to regard him as his enemy. When once during a feast, at the request of King Calissen, he made a brilliant order in defense of Macedonia, so that all attendees not only applauded but also threw their wreaths to him, then the king ordered him to utter a speech against the Macedonians.

image source

And Kalisfen pronounced this speech with such passion that Alexander felt his worst enemy in him. He said that Calisfen showed not so much the power of his eloquence as the power of his enmity to the Macedonians. Alexander's evil sensation was further reinforced by the fact that Kalisfen, starting from the pirates, had several times pronounced the famous Gomer's words in the king's address: "He died Prochole unequally of you with the most exceedingly mortal." / "The Iliada, XXI, 107 / It was a hint that Alexander was dead if he had died better than heroes. Such acts aroused hatred not only in the king himself, but also in those who were very close to him, who had begun to slander Calisfen in instigating the youth against the king. Therefore, when the Macedonian youth's plot against Alexander / 327 BC was revealed. / and when none of the conspirators, even under terrible attempts, referred to Kalisfen as an accomplice or organizer of the plot, Alexander had not executed the philosopher, but had already declared that he would punish not only Calisfen, but also those who sent him, and those who accept in their cities conspired against the king. In his threats, Alexander undoubtedly hints at Aristotle.

About the death of Calisfen in the spring of 327 BC. is different. One - that Alexander ordered others to hang him, others - that he died after severe suffering in prison for seven months. There is no specific message about Aristotle's reaction to Kalisfen's death, although he was told of this event by a man arriving from Alexander's camp. But it is quite possible that in ancient times stubborn rumors have arisen that Aristotle participated in the poisoning of Alexander precisely because of Calisfen. The entire tragedy of these decades in the history of Greece consisted in the fact that the majority of the Greek population still lived with the old educational and democratic ideals of Pericles. The tyranny in Ancient Greece decisively cursed everyone, and above all Plato and Aristotle.

---

---

part 3

part 4