The Parasite - Classic Text | Alexandria
The Parasite (Greek: Περὶ Παρασίτου), a satirical dialogue attributed to the second-century CE Greek author Lucian of Samosata, stands as one of antiquity's most intriguing defenses of social parasitism, challenging conventional morality through sophisticated rhetorical play. This remarkable text presents itself as a Socratic dialogue between two characters—Tychiades and Simon—where the latter, a professional parasite, argues that parasitism constitutes not merely a practice but an authentic art form (τέχνη) rivaling philosophy itself.
Composed during the height of the Second Sophistic movement (c. 160-180 CE), the work emerged in an intellectual climate where rhetorical virtuosity and philosophical debate flourished throughout the Roman Empire. Lucian, known for his biting wit and satirical genius, cleverly appropriates the formal structures of Platonic dialogue to subvert traditional moral and philosophical assumptions, demonstrating his mastery of Greek literary traditions while simultaneously undermining them.
The text's paradoxical argument unfolds through Simon's systematic defense of parasitism, drawing parallels with established arts and sciences while asserting the parasite's superior happiness, security, and ethical position. Through careful rhetorical maneuvering, The Parasite transforms its seemingly absurd premise into a sophisticated critique of philosophical pretension and social hypocrisy, suggesting that the professional dinner-guest might embody a more honest and successful way of life than the supposed virtue of philosophers.
Modern scholarship continues to debate the text's deeper implications, with interpretations ranging from purely comedic entertainment to serious social commentary on patronage relationships in Imperial Rome. The work's enduring relevance lies in its exploration of themes that remain pertinent today: social dependency, intellectual authenticity, and the relationship between power and knowledge. The Parasite thus emerges not merely as a rhetorical exercise but as a sophisticated meditation on social relationships and the nature of wisdom itself, inviting readers to question their own assumptions about virtue, success, and social interdependence. What might this ancient defense of parasitism reveal about our own society's complex web of dependencies and pretensions?