Greek philosopher Diogenes (400-323 BC) is known as "the cynic" and nicknamed the "Dog" by his contemporaries because of his eccentric behavior. He was best known as the philosopher who lived in a tub and carried a lantern around Athens at midday as he searched for an honest man.
Diogenes Biography in a Nutshell
Diogenes was born in Sinope, now a part of the present Turkey. He went to Athens when he was young, and studied under Antisthenes, a pupil of Socrates. He was a contemporary of Aristotle, and it was alleged that Plato once described him as "a Socrates gone mad."
He believed that freedom could be achieved by reducing needs to the barest minimum, and happiness achieved by returning to nature. He made his living by begging, refusing to wear anything but the simplest of cloth and was renowned for his despicable public stunts.
Diogenes Philosophy
He believed that the mastery of the self or "self-sufficiency" leads to both happiness and freedom but needs constant practice in the face of adversities. His uncompromising philosophy requires that one should abandon all possessions, family ties and social values to minimize the distraction of emotional and psychological attachments.
He went further than merely avoiding distractions as he inculcated that one must aggressively attack society to liberate others, and must open oneself to ridicule to remain emotionally detached.
The School of Cynics
Diogenes was an inspiration for the Cynics, a school of thought that rejected the complications of civic life. He professed a simplistic lifestyle, in favor of commitment to self-sufficiency. He claimed that happiness could only be achieved by living according to nature, that is, to satisfy the body through basic requirements.
Criticism of Diogenes Philosophy and Trivia
Diogenes' critics complained that his lifestyle was self-indulgent, as he relied on the generosity and productivity of others to support his vagrant style. If everyone were to follow his example, society would collapse, as it is economically impossible for anyone, including himself, to concentrate on the mastery of the self. Therefore, his philosophy cannot be universally followed.
The term "Cynic" had a different connotation from the modern one, being derived from the ancient Greek word "Kyon" meaning "Dog" which is the nickname of Diogenes. In Ancient Greece and Rome, where a resurgent Cynicism enjoyed brief popularity that time, the term meant what is understood in the modern times as "asceticism."
The Cynics' popularity coincided with times of economic turbulence and social unrest. As a general philosopher principle, it was influential on the later Stoic philosophers.
Last Insight on Diogenes
If he has writings, none have survived. What is known of his life and philosophy came down through stories and sayings found in various classical sources, in particular, the third-century Roman biographer Diogenes Laertius.
Sources:
- Clark, John, Ed. Illustrated Biographical Dictionary. London: Chancellor Press, 1994.
- McGovern, Una, Ed. Biographical Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers, 2002.
- Stokes, Philip. Philosophy, the Great Thinkers. London: Capella, 2007.
