Of course, he meant to say that everyone he encountered in the marketplace had already lost touch with their humanity. One day he visited the marketplace in broad daylight with a lantern, examining random people, saying: “I’m looking for a human being. Plato certainly wasn’t the only one he mocked. Plato, despite acknowledging Diogenes’ brilliance and wit, disapproved of his obscene behavior, and called him: “Socrates gone mad.” His philosophy was shown through his actions, and this method was the key to his success: his down-to-earth philosophy was easily accessible by the masses, and Cynicism as a philosophical school would later flourish in Greece and Rome. He rejected the necessity of an expansive ethical system and all kinds of other academic fuzz. In a way, we could see Diogenes as an anti-philosopher. As a response, Diogenes plucked a chicken, entered Plato’s Academy, and said: “Behold! I’ve brought you a man!” On one occasion, Plato was given praise because of his definition of a human being, namely: ‘a featherless chicken’. He often mocked Plato by disturbing his lectures. Diogenes, however, criticized him for being too theoretical. The famous philosopher Plato was a contemporary of Diogenes, who believed that ideas are the basis of reality.
In fact, as the odd man out, he challenged people by striking conversations and confronting them with their faults. When he saw a child drinking water using his hands, he threw away the bowl as well.Įven though he was poor, and rejected social norms and customs, he wasn’t cut off from society.
He owned nothing except for some old rags, and a bowl to eat and drink from. He lived in a barrel near the marketplace in the city-state of Corinth. Chapter 1: The dog – his life, and his actionsĭiogenes was the embodiment of poverty. Thus, they criticize human behavior, but do believe that we can be cured. They just fiercely opposed the societies that humans create for themselves, which, in their opinion, prevent them from living in agreement with their true nature. The ancient Cynics, however, weren’t negative at all towards human nature. Or as the Cambridge Dictionary defines it: “The belief that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere.” Cynicism, as it’s used today, refers to a negative stance towards human nature. There’s a difference between modern-day cynicism and Cynicism as a philosophy. Antisthenes, as written by Xenophon, Symposium, iv. Wealth and poverty do not lie in a person’s estate, but in their souls. Both would have agreed that wealth isn’t a matter of possessions. It’s not certain if Antisthenes and Diogenes have ever met, but he and the doggish philosopher definitely shared their preference for living a life of poverty. The word ‘cynicism’ comes from the ancient Greek word kunikós, which means ‘doggish’, referring to Antisthenes’ follower Diogenes, who was born in a Greek colony named Sinope. This video explores Diogenes’ philosophy, and what we can learn from his ideas.Ī pupil of Socrates named Antisthenes laid out the first ideas of what would later become the philosophical school called Cynicism. It’s no surprise that people called him ‘doggish’, dog-like, or simply ‘the dog’. He practiced what he preached, behaving obscenely, with no regard for convention. Therefore, we should strip ourselves of these corrupting man made constructs, so we’re able to live how we’re supposed to live: in agreement with nature.ĭiogenes’ stance toward everything cultured was very obvious. He believed that human society infused us with all kinds of unnatural desires that are not only obsolete, but also prevent us from being happy. When you think of philosophy, the shameless behavior of Diogenes the Cynic probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.ĭiogenes strongly opposed social values and institutions, because, according to him, these are at odds with human nature. On top of that, he defecated, urinated, and even sexually gratified himself in public. He ridiculed people on the streets, disrespected authority, broke with all forms of etiquette, and didn’t care about personal hygiene. Video script of ‘Diogenes | The Philosopher Who Urinated On People’
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