Hegesias

Hegesias was a Greek philosopher associated with the Cyrenaic school of moral philosophy, active around the turn of the 3rd century BCE. The Cyrenaics believed that the pleasure of the moment is the ultimate good and that a happy life involves rationally pursuing pleasure.1

Hegesias, like his contemporary Theodorus, doubted that reason could procure pleasure. Instead, he advised avoiding pain by considering things like poverty, riches, slavery, freedom, death, and life as indifferent. This perspective led to him being called the "death-persuader". His ethical ideas were later incorporated into the teachings of Epicurus.1