Did you know cynicism is an actual philosophy? Diogenese of Sinope is considered one of the fathers of cynicism. I wouldn't call myself a cynic but I would have to say that some of the ideas are attractive, (some of them, not all of them... Diogenese believed in living like a dog).
Cherity and I were listening to NPR and to a few stories about this guy. One of them was that he asked Alexander the great what he was planning on doing after he conquered and assimilated all of europe. Alexander said he would do the same to Asia Minor. Diogenese asked what he would do after that. Alexander said he would do the same to the next country. Diogenese asked "and after that?". This went on until Alexander said he would do this to the whole world. Diogenese asked what he would do after that and Alexander said he would probably relax. Diogenese response was, why not just skip the middle steps and do that now?
A few things from Wikipedia about Diogenese:
He taught contempt for human achievements and a return to animalism. His was a relentless campaign to "debunk" social values and institutions.
One of the most important anecdotes about Diogenes suggests that he was exiled from Sinope for "adulterating the coinage". In his new home, Athens, Diogenes' mission became the metaphorical adulterating/debasing the "coinage" of custom. Custom, he alleged, was the false coin of human morality. Instead of being troubled by what is really evil, people make a big fuss over what is merely conventionally evil. This distinction between nature ("physis") and custom ("nomos") is a favorite theme of ancient Greek philosophy, and one that Plato takes up in The Republic, in the legend of the Ring of Gyges.
The story goes that Alexander the Great, thrilled to meet the famous philosopher (in his tub), asked if there was any favour he might do for him. Diogenes replied, "Stand out of my sunlight." Alexander still declared, "If I were not Alexander, then I should wish to be Diogenes." (In another account, Alexander found the philosopher rummaging through a pile of human bones. Diogenes explained, "I am searching for the bones of your father but cannot distinguish them from those of a slave.")
5 comments:
I just listened to a show on this on an NPR show called "speaking of faith" It was called the history of doubt and included some other forms of doubting that have moved theology forward including cynicism. You can get the podcasts for free. It's a pretty interesting show sometimes. There was a really good one on Rumi and sufism and the "whirling dervishes" which is actually a form of dancing meditation or prayer that actually exists.
That was actually the one we listened to. I was really interesting.
I would just like to point out Cherity's Freudian slip, "I was really interesting." I'm not sure of that Cherity, but since I love you, I'll agree that you are pretty interesting. :)
Robin
Uh, no slip there. I AM really interesting.
Just joking.
I think I was teetering between " I thought it was really interesting" and "It was interesting". In the end I subconsciously choose "I am interesting".
We can all hope, can't we?
That show is replaying right now, as we are laying down for nap. Weird.
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