Timon

, the Phliasian, one of the chief disciples of Pyrrho, flourished in the time of Ptolemy Philadelphus. He early visited Megara, to be instructed by Stilpo in dialectics, and afterwards removed to Elea, that he might become a hearer of Pyrrho. He first professed philosophy at Chalcedon, and afterwards at Athens, whe r e he remained till his death. He took so little pains to invite disciples to his school, that it has been said of him, that, as the Scythians bhot flying, Timon gained pupils by running from them. This indifference to the profession which he had | assumed was probably owing to his love of ease and indulgence; for he w is fond of rural retirement, and was so much addicted to wine, that he held a successful contest with several eelebratfd champions in drinking. It was this disposition, probably, which tempted him to embrace the indolent doctnne of scepticism, Tmion appears to have viewed the opinions and Jisputes of the philosophers in the same ludicrous point of light, in whici) Luciant’terwards contemplated them; for, like him, he wrote with sarcastic humour against the whole body. His poem, entitled “Silli,” oiten quoted by the ancients, was a keen satire, full of bitter invective both against men and doctrines. The remaining fragments o thi* poem have I); eti industriously collected by Henry Step!) ens, in his " Poesis Philosophical* This Timon (-.vho is not to be confounded witn Timon the misanthrope) lived to the age of ninety years. ¹