![]() He sought self-sufficiency through asceticism. It doesn’t matter how much apparent power or influence you bare, the question is, are you true to your nature?Īnd if so, does your pursuing of “happiness” require such complex diatribes?Īre we infact just lying to ourselves about what it takes to reach the “ideal state”, whatever that may entail to each of us?ĭiogenes was one of the best examples of “living by your word”, as he conveyed Cynic philosophy through personal example and not any polished modus operandi required in applying a system of thought. In the end, the “Dog” understood that when boiled down to their most basic state, humans are all the same, regardless of title or achievement. Some time later when asked about the seemingly outrageous episode, Alexander said that if he could not be himself, we would’ve wanted to be Diogenes. “I am searching for the bones of your father (Phillip II of Macedon), but I cannot distinguish them from those of his slave.” When questioned about the action by the Prince of Macedon, he answered: ![]() “Alexandre et Diogène” by Nicolas Monsiau (1818)Īnother version of this episode states that he was in fact seen observing a pile of refuse and human bones. When asked if there was anything the conqueror could do for him, Diogenes simply stated: It is said as well that in another apocryphal meeting, he was once visited by Alexander The Great himself, while the former was sunbathing. These episodes eventually earned him Plato’s label of “Socrates gone mad.”, a personal hero of the cynic, and one that he would never have the chance to meet. When his contemporary, Plato, at one time compared the human being to a “featherless biped” in trying to explain human nature, Diogenes brought to him a plucked chicken, and loudly proclaimed: He also had no respect for social hierarquies and often made a mockery of respected statesmen and thinkers alike. Hence, it was only logical for him to call out its often fruitless nature and to expose its flaws, by mocking those he deemed foolish and making masterful use of hyperbole and caustic humour. He was however, a fierce believer in acting over discussing and losing oneself in theoretical argument. “Other dogs bite their enemies, whereas i also bite my friends in order to save them.” ![]() To someone completely deprived of context or blind to the art of satire, this would’ve just been a random ‘loon’ that acts senselessly and without purpose. Parrhesia, meaning full expression or frankness, was employed by this strange man in a borderline comedic manner. “Diogenes Searching for an Honest Man” by Johann Tischbein (1780) One of his most famous behaviours was wander the local Athens market, with a lighted lamp in broad daylight, which he held up at the faces of passers-by, while looking for an ‘honest human being’. He was often seen shamelessly urinating and even masturbating in public, and when confronted with such “fowl” actions, he pointed out that it was normal for humans to do so, and that he was the only one who was not a coward to admit it. He was known for his straightforward nature and honesty, and believed ‘manners’ were just senseless rules used to shackle people’s nature’s. His abrasive stance on virtue and simplicity, as well as the inherent value of hard labour in mind and body being essential to achieve them, helped lay out the path for other important phylosophical movements like the Stoics and Epicureans. The term ‘Cynic’ and its derivative, Cynical, both originate from the Greek word kynikos, which means ‘dog-like’. He was known as “The Dog”, both from self-refferance and similarity of behaviour, since just like one he would “bark”, for understanding sake – contest by means of discourse – at whomever was not being true to himself.
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