(eclectic), a name given to some ancient philosophers, who, without attaching themselves to any particular sect, took what they judged good, and solid, from each. Hence their denomination; which, in the original Greek, signifies "that may be chosen," or "that chooses;" of the verb \(\text{i} \chi \nu \alpha \gamma \iota \sigma\) I choose.—Laertius notes, that they were also, for the same reason, denominated analogici; but that they call themselves Philalethes, i.e. lovers of truth.

The chief or founder of the eclectic was one Potamon of Alexandria, who lived under Augustus and Tiberius; and who, weary of doubting of all things with the Sceptics and Pyrrhonians, formed the eclectic sect; which Vossius calls the eclectic.

Towards the close of the second century a sect arose in the Christian church under the denomination of Eclectics, or modern Platonics. They professed to make truth the only object of their enquiry, and to be ready to adopt from all the different systems and sects, such tenets as they thought agreeable to it. However, they preferred Plato to the other philosophers, and looked upon his opinions concerning God, the human soul, and things invisible, as conformable to the spirit and genius of the Christian doctrine. One of the principal patrons of this system was Ammonius Saccas, who at this time laid the foundation of that sect, afterwards distinguished by the name of the new Platonics, in the Alexandrian school. See Ammonius and Platonists.

Eclectics were also a certain set of physicians among the ancients, of whom Archigenes, under Trajan, was the chief, who selected from the opinions of all the other sects, that which appeared to them best and most rational; hence they were called eclectics, and their prescriptions medicinae eclectica.