Aesara facts for kids

Aesara of Lucania (Greek: Αἰσάρα Aisara) was an ancient Greek philosopher. She lived a very long time ago, around the 4th or 3rd century BC. Aesara was part of a group called the Pythagoreans. They followed the teachings of the famous mathematician Pythagoras. Aesara wrote a book called On Human Nature. Only a small part of this book still exists today.

Who Was Aesara?

We know about Aesara mainly from a short piece of her book. This piece was saved by a writer named Stobaeus. Aesara came from a place called Lucania. This was an ancient area in southern Italy. Many Pythagorean groups lived there.

Pythagoreans were followers of Pythagoras. They were known for their ideas about numbers, music, and how to live a good life. Aesara is thought to be one of these Pythagoreans. They spread out after leaving Crotona in the 5th century BC. Some people think her name might be a different spelling of Aresa. Aresa was said to be a daughter of Pythagoras and Theano.

Aesara's Ideas on Human Nature

Aesara's book, On Human Nature, was written in an old Greek style. This style was common around the 3rd century BC. Some people have wondered if the text was written much later. However, most scholars believe it was written by a woman philosopher named Aesara. She lived in the 4th or 3rd century BC.

Aesara believed that by studying ourselves, we can understand how laws and good behavior work. She wrote:

Human nature seems to me to provide a standard of law and justice both for the home and for the city.

Parts of the Soul

Aesara thought the human soul had three main parts. Each part has a different job:

• The mind helps us judge and think.
• The spirit gives us courage and strength.
• Desire brings us love and friendliness.

She described these parts as:

Being threefold, it is organized in accordance with triple functions: that which effects judgment and thoughtfulness is [the mind], that which effects strength and ability is [high spirit], and that which effects love and kindliness is desire.

These parts are like divine principles. They help the soul work in a smart and organized way.

Natural Law and Morality

Aesara's ideas about natural law focused on three areas of good behavior. These were:

• How an individual should act.
• How people should behave in a family.
• How people should act in society as a whole.

Women in Pythagorean Society

The Pythagoreans were special because they included women in their groups. This was not common in ancient Greece. However, it did not mean women and men were seen as completely equal in every way.

Pythagoreans believed women were important for creating peace and fairness at home. Men had a similar job for the state or city. In this way, Aesara's ideas about natural law were very important. They helped explain how to have fairness and peace in all of society.

See also

In Spanish: Aesara para niños