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Cliff Faulk
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Why were most of the Greek philosophers were poor?

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The Ancient Greek philosophers did not pursue money in all their doings, most of them were tutors, teaching knowledge. Was life of pleasure and affluent nothing to them?

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2 Answers

  1. The concept of poor here is quite relative, as most of the philosophers were actually from wealthy home. Only a few of them were poor, also, some of them had works they did asides philosophizing. Socrates was a mason by trade.
    Although, he never received monetary payment, he was still paid ’‘in kind’’ in the way of food/lodgings/drink etc. by the owner of the particular house he worked at a particular time.
    He didn’t put much value on material possessions and refused to take money for his teaching. He was somewhat notorious for being broke.

  2. Most ancient Greek philosophers did not make their money from philosophy, directly. Many of them were from wealthy families and therefore didn’t need to work. Many of them also had wealthy patrons who paid for their expenses. Other philosophers found means to survive, which included working day jobs, starting cults, while some literally lived off the streets through begging.