In “Timon of Athens,” the cynical philosopher who mocks Timon is Apemantus. He is a misanthropic observer who distrusts human motives long before Timon experiences betrayal himself.
When Timon is wealthy, Apemantus attends his lavish banquet but refuses to flatter the guests. He argues that Timon’s companions value his money rather than his friendship, making him the only prominent figure who openly challenges the social world surrounding Timon. His name is commonly glossed as meaning “feeling no pain.”
After Timon loses his fortune and retreats to a cave, he adopts an even harsher hatred of humanity. Apemantus visits him there and accuses him of copying the philosophy he had already practiced. Their meeting becomes a contest of elaborate insults. Lucullus and Lucius, by contrast, are among Timon’s false friends: they abandon him when he can no longer provide money.