Diogenes the Cynic (4th century, B.C.)had a sharp tongue and led a bohemian life living on the streets of Athens. Today, he is most known for his clever maxims and retorts to the great men and famous personalities of his time.The term cynic comes from kynikos, the adjective form of kyon, meaning dog, and in ancient times it was applied to a loose group of philosophers who believed in living their life to maximize freedom, self-sufficiency, and reason.
Though on the surface that may not sound unreasonable, Diogenes followed his ideas to the extreme, refusing to conform to conventional standards of decency (hindered his freedom), and was famous for his shameless and eccentric behavior (he lived in a barrel, subsisted on a diet of onions, crude behavior). Diogenes is often mentioned as an extreme vision of Socratic wisdom because he actually valued reason - he came to his lifestyle by following reason and not any other motivation, to its ultimate conclusion. He sought to destroy social conventions (including family life) as a way to a more "natural" existence, and his most famous quotes often seek to deflate the powerful. A few Diogenes stories...
One sunny day, apparently Alexander the Great came to speak to him. He offer to grant him any request, and Diogenes replied, "Stand out of my light."
When Plato defined man as a featherless biped, Diogenes plucked a chicken, brought it into the forum and held it up, shouting, "Here is Plato's man!"
When asked by someone how he could become famous, Diogenes answered, "By worrying as little as possible about fame."
In modern times, we may encounter some philosophers of Diogenes' ilk, though usually not taken to his extreme. Some of the ascetism of Diogenes has been compared to Zen buddhism, and within political philosophy, it's been said that Cynics originated the concept of anarchy. Echoes of Diogenes may still be seen among today's intellectual cynics and deconstructivists, and some trend-watchers have called our present times "The Age of Cynicism."
From Wikipedia, "Typically, the modern cynic is greatly skeptical of social norms..and tend to questions the validity of much popular belief, morality, and wisdom." The present era is "sometimes described as an Age of Cynicism. Generally, subscribers to this view believe that cynicism is understandable...Journalistic articles frequently employ a cynical viewpoint, and few mass-market newspapers or magazines advocate an alternative viewpoint such as Stoicism or hedonism."
Discussion Questions about Diogenes: Who was he and when did he live? Do you find anything to admire about Diogenes? Is there anything you condemn? Plato described Diogenes as "Socrates gone mad." For a progymnasmata exercise, support or attack this statement. Would this be an encomium or invective? Do you see any Diogenes-type thinking today?
Diogenes of Sinope at Wikipedia
Diogenes at the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Cynicism at Wikipedia
Cynicism in Generation X and Y
Progymnasmata: Encomium
Progymnastmata: Vituperation or Invective
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