Editing Xenocrates (section)

==Life==
Xenocrates was a native of [[Chalcedon]].<ref>Cicero, ''Academica'', i. 4; Athenaeus, xii.; Stobaeus, Ecl. Phys. i. 3; Suda, ''Xenocrates''</ref> By the most probable calculation<ref>{{harvnb|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 14}}; comp. Censorinus, c. 15</ref> he was born 396/5 BC, and died 314/3 BC at the age of 82. His father was named Agathon ({{langx|grc|Ἀγάθων}}) or Agathanor ({{langx|grc|Ἀγαθάνωρ}}).<ref name="Suda_xi,42">[https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-entries/xi/42 Suda Encyclopedia, xi,42]</ref>

Moving to [[Athens]] in early youth, he became the pupil of [[Aeschines Socraticus]],<ref>Athenaeus, ix</ref> but subsequently joined himself to [[Plato]],{{sfn|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 6}} whom he accompanied to [[Sicily]] in 361.{{sfn|Laërtius|1925|loc=§  6, etc.}} Upon his master's death, he paid a visit with [[Aristotle]] to [[Hermias of Atarneus]].<ref>Strabo, xii.</ref> In 339/8 BC, Xenocrates succeeded [[Speusippus]] in the presidency of the school,{{sfn|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 14, comp. 3.}} defeating his competitors [[Menedemus of Pyrrha]] and [[Heraclides Ponticus]] by a few votes.{{sfn|Jackson|1911}} On three occasions he was member of an Athenian legation, once to [[Philip II of Macedon|Philip]], twice to [[Antipater]].{{sfn|Laërtius|1925|loc=§  8, 9}}

Xenocrates resented the [[Macedon]]ian influence then dominant at Athens. Soon after the death of [[Demosthenes]] (c. 322 BC), he declined the citizenship offered to him at the insistence of [[Phocion]]{{sfn|Jackson|1911}} as a reward for his services in negotiating peace with [[Antipater]] after Athens' unsuccessful rebellion.  The settlement was reached "at the price of a constitutional change: thousands of poor Athenians were disenfranchised," and Xenocrates said "that he did not want to become a citizen within a constitution he had struggled to prevent".<ref>{{harvnb|Habicht|1988|p=14}} citing {{harvnb|Plutarch|1902|loc=Phoc § 29.6}} and {{harvnb|Whitehead|1981|pp=238–241}}.</ref>  Being unable to pay the tax levied upon resident aliens, he is said to have been saved only by the courage of the orator [[Lycurgus of Athens|Lycurgus]],<ref>Plutarch, ''Flamin.'' c. 12, ''X. Orat. Vitae,'' 7; but compare Phocion, c. 29</ref> or even to have been bought by [[Demetrius Phalereus]], and then emancipated.{{sfn|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 14}} In 314/3, he died from hitting his head, after tripping over a bronze pot in his house.{{sfn|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 14}}

Xenocrates was succeeded as [[scholarch]] by [[Polemon (scholarch)|Polemon]], whom he had reclaimed from a life of profligacy. Besides Polemon, the statesman Phocion, [[Chaeron of Pellene|Chaeron]] (tyrant of [[Pellene]]), the academic [[Crantor]], the [[Zeno of Citium|Stoic Zeno]] and [[Epicurus]] are said to have frequented his lectures.

Wanting in quickness of apprehension and natural grace<ref>{{harvnb|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 6}}; Plutarch, ''Conj. Praec.''</ref> he compensated by persevering and thorough-going industry,<ref>{{harvnb|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 6, 11}}; comp. Plutarch, ''de recta Rat.''</ref> pure benevolence,<ref>{{harvnb|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 10}}; Aelian, ''Varis Historia'', xiii. 3</ref> purity of morals,<ref>{{harvnb|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 7}}; Plutarch, ''Comp. Cimon. c. Lucullo'', c. 1; Cicero, ''de Officiis'', i. 30; Valerius Maximus, ii. 10</ref> unselfishness,<ref>{{harvnb|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 8, etc.}}; Cicero, ''Tusculanae Quaestiones'', v. 32</ref> and a moral earnestness, which compelled esteem and trust even from the Athenians of his own age.<ref>{{harvnb|Laërtius|1925|loc=§ 7}}; Cicero, ''ad Atticus'', i. 15; Plutarch, ''de Adulat. et Amic. discr.''</ref>

Xenocrates adhered closely to the Platonist doctrine, and he is accounted the typical representative of the Old Academy. In his writings, which were numerous, he seems to have covered nearly the whole of the Academic program; but [[metaphysics]] and [[ethics]] were the subjects which principally engaged his thoughts. He is said to have made more explicit the division of philosophy into the three parts of [[Physics]], [[Dialectic]] and [[Ethics]].