A Carthaginian philosopher who became the voice of the Athenian Academy

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born as Hasdrubal in Carthage, Clitomachus traveled to Athens to master Academic skepticism. He eventually led the Academy for decades, producing 400 scrolls that preserved the teachings of his mentor, Carneades. Though his original works are lost, his intellectual legacy survived through the writings of Cicero and Sextus Empiricus.

Born in 187/6 BC, the man known as Clitomachus began his life in Carthage under the name Hasdrubal. By 163/2 BC, at approximately 24 years of age, he arrived in Athens. There, he immersed himself in the intellectual climate of the city, studying not only the skepticism of the New Academy under Carneades but also the doctrines of the Stoics and Peripatetics. His dedication to the Academic school was profound, and he remained a loyal disciple who never deviated from the views of his master.

Following the death of Carneades, Clitomachus assumed the role of scholarch, or head of the Academy, in 127/6 BC. He remained a fixture of Athenian intellectual life for the rest of his days, teaching until at least 111 BC, when he was heard by Crassus. His output was prolific; he authored 400 scrolls, though none survive in their entirety. We owe our understanding of his thought largely to Cicero and Sextus Empiricus, who had access to these texts centuries ago. Cicero, in particular, drew heavily from Clitomachus for works such as De Natura Deorum and De Fato.

Beyond technical philosophy, Clitomachus maintained a deep connection to his homeland. When Carthage fell in 146 BC, he composed a consolatory work for his countrymen, arguing that philosophy could provide solace even during the most severe calamities. His influence extended into the Roman elite, as evidenced by his dedications to the poet Gaius Lucilius and the consul Lucius Marcius Censorinus. He died in 110/09 BC, leaving the leadership of the Academy to Philo of Larissa, having cemented his place as a vital bridge between Hellenistic thought and the Roman intellectual tradition.

His work, On the Withholding of Assent, remains a primary example of his commitment to the skeptical tradition. He also explored the broader history of philosophy in his treatise, On the Schools of Thought. While his own voice is now silent, his efforts to document the teachings of Carneades ensured that the skeptical tradition remained a cornerstone of ancient philosophical discourse.

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