Diogenes was the first of a group of thinkers who became known as the Cynics, a term taken from the Greek kunikos, meaning “dog-like.” It reflects the determination of the Cynics to spurn all forms of social custom and etiquette, and instead live in as natural a state as possible. They asserted that the more one can do this, as Diogenese himself did by living a life of poverty with only an abandoned tub for shelter, the nearer one will be to leading the ideal life.

The happiest person, who in Diogenes’ phrase, “has the most” is therefore someone who lives in accordance with the rhythms of the natural world, free from the conventions and values of civilized society, and “content with the least.”

The Quote above comes from the Philosophy Book, a really cool illustrated philosophy reference book for novices.

A funny thing that struck me as I thought about the origins of Cynicism, is how many people who claim to be Cynics today get the fist part down really well–the part about spurning social custom and etiquette–but don’t even bother with the “living as natural as possible” part. I think if you’re going to be cynical then you should go big like Diogenes the Dog, or go home!

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Painting above by Jean-Léon Gérôme

Tags:CynicismDiogenes of Sinopephilosophy