Bion of Borysthenes became a Cyrenaic in his later life, but his satires are almost entirely lost.902
# EPICURUS AND HIS SCHOOL
Epicurus, though the apostle of hedonism, and heir of the Cyrenaics, taught a doctrine of wealth somewhat similar to that of the Stoics.903
His “happiness” consisted in living a simple and prudent life. He taught that spiritual wealth is unlimited, and that the wise are contented with things easy to acquire (εὐπόριστα);904 that external wealth, on the other hand, is limited,905 and that it is not increase of possessions but limitation of desires that makes truly rich.906 He believed the simplest food to be best,907 both for pleasure and for health, that many wealthy find no escape from ills,908 that he who is not satisfied with little will not be satisfied with all,909 and that contented poverty is the greatest wealth.910 In accord with his teaching, he seems to have lived very simply.911
However, he did not go to the extreme of the Cynics and Stoics, but taught that the wise will have a care to gain property, and not live as beggars.912
He exhibits no tendency toward communism, but rather toward the extreme individualism of the Sophists, and was in sympathy with their social contract theory.913
Later Epicureanism degenerated by taking the hedonistic principle of its founder too literally. Like the Sophists, the school has influenced modern economic thought through its conception of justice, as a mere convention for mutual advantage.914