Hegesias of Cyrene (fl. 290 BC) was a philosopher who argued that happiness was impossible, so we must avoid pain & sorrow in life. He wrote a book titled "Death by Starvation", inspiring many people to kill themselves. Thus he was nicknamed Peisithanatos or "Death-persuader" 
According to Cicero, Hegesias' book "Death by Starvation" had a deadly influence on many readers by starving themselves to death to avoid the pain that life inevitably brings. Book was published in Alexandria, as consequence king Ptolemy II Philadelphus forbid him to teach [1]
Above photo shows the head of a Greek Philosopher, Roman 2nd c. AD marble after Greek original at Getty Museum [2]
Hegesias was part of The Cyrenaics, a Greek school of philosophy (similar to the Epicureans) advocating that the only good was physical & mental pleasures to achieve the absence of pain. However, Hegesias' teachings represented a more pessimistic interpretation [3]
The Cyrenaics name derives from his founder Aristippus of Cyrene. Cyrene, ancient Greek city (today's Libya) founded 631 BC.
Hegesias the philosopher was a contemporary of Magas of Cyrene, Ptolemy Soter's stepson who ruled 276-250 BC, he favored the study of philosophy [4]
Hegesias the philosopher was a contemporary of Magas of Cyrene, Ptolemy Soter's stepson who ruled 276-250 BC, he favored the study of philosophy [4]
Magas interest in philosophy may have reached Asoka, the Mauryan king who send Buddhist missionaries to his court in Cyrene.
It has been argued the philosophy of Hegesias displays striking similarities with the tenets of Buddhism, especially Dukkha or "suffering". [5]
It has been argued the philosophy of Hegesias displays striking similarities with the tenets of Buddhism, especially Dukkha or "suffering". [5]
Magas of Cyrene is listed in Asoka's rock-cut inscription bearing the names of 5 Hellenistic rulers who received his ambassadors. Copies of the Rock Edict of Asoka were placed along trade routes in his kingdom, which bordered the Seleucid empire (Kandahar, southern Afghanistan[6]
P.S. Hegesias was not the first to teach a pessimistic outlook on life as attested by Solon telling Croesus: "Call no man happy until he is dead; he is at best but fortunate." Moreover, Hegesias is part of a line of fatalistic philosophers culminating in Schopenhauer.
Schopenhauer (in)famous quote: "For man's greatest offence is that he has been born" is mistakenly attributed to him but actually he's quoting Calderón de la Barca's 'La Vida es Sueño': "Pues el delito mayor del hombre es haber nacido."
