Xenocrates

Xenocrates (395-314BC) was a Greek philosopher.

Born in Chalcedon, he studied with Plato and in 339BC became head of Plato's Academy. After Plato's death, he travelled with Aristotle. He was also a member of some Athenian diplomatic missions.

He wrote many works on philosophy and natural sciences (especially astronomy) but only fragments survive. While for the most part loyal to Plato's teachings, which he expanded and systematised, he was very interested in threefold categories, probably reflecting the influence of Pythagoras. Thus he divided philosophy into logic, ethics and physics and reality into sensation, belief and knowledge. Among sentient beings he listed gods, men and demons, and he regarded men as a tripartite union of mind, body and soul.