Diogenes the Cynic: Philosophy of Independence and Simplicity

Diogenes the Cynic's philosophy challenges social norms, advocating for a simple life in accordance with nature.

### Diogenes the Cynic: Living the Philosophy of Unconventionality and Independence
* 🐕 Diogenes the Cynic, known for his brazen and unconventional behavior, defied social norms and values, believing that they were in **conflict with human nature**.
* 🛢 Living in a barrel with only a few possessions, Diogenes criticized society and advocated for a life of **simplicity and self-sufficiency**.
* He rejected the pursuit of material wealth, considering it the **root of all evil**, and believed that true happiness could be found by **renouncing societal expectations**.
* 💬 Diogenes' philosophy was based on **actions rather than elaborate ethical systems**, and he sought to enlighten others by **challenging their beliefs and behaviors**.
* 🏛 Despite his unorthodox methods, Diogenes' philosophy of Cynicism was influential and later evolved into **Stoicism**.
* 🐶 Like his canine namesake, Diogenes taught that by **living in the present moment, free from social constraints**, one could find **virtue and inner peace**.

He mocked people on the streets, insulted authority, broke all forms of etiquette, and did not care about personal hygiene. In addition to that, he defecated, urinated, and even sexually satisfied himself in public. When you think about philosophy, the brazenness of Diogenes the Cynic's behavior is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Diogenes strongly opposed social values and institutions because, according to him, they are in conflict with human nature. He believed that human society instilled in us all kinds of unnatural desires that are not only obsolete but also prevent us from being happy. Therefore, we must rid ourselves of these corrupt man-made institutions so that we are able to live as we are supposed to live: in accordance with nature. Diogenes's stance towards everything cultivated was very obvious. He practiced what he preached, behaving obscenely without regard for protocol. It is not surprising that people called him 'Dog-like', referring to a dog, or simply 'the dog'. This video explores the philosophy of Diogenes and what we can learn from his ideas. DIOGENES, THE CYNIC A student of Socrates named Antisthenes laid the groundwork for what would later become the philosophical school called Cynicism. The word cynicism comes from the ancient Greek kunikós, which means 'Dog-like'.

Referring to the follower of Antisthenes, Diogenes, who was born in a Greek colony called Sinope. It is not certain if Antisthenes and Diogenes ever met, but he and the dog-like philosopher definitely shared a preference for living a life of poverty. Both would have agreed that wealth is not a matter of possessions. I quote: Wealth and poverty are not in a person's possessions, but in their souls. End of quote. There is a difference between modern cynicism and philosophical cynicism. Cynicism, as used today, refers to a negative attitude towards human nature. Or as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary: The belief that people are only interested in themselves and are insincere. The ancient cynics, however, were not negative at all towards human nature. They simply fiercely opposed the societies that humans create for themselves, which, in their view, prevent them from living according to their true nature. Therefore, they criticize human behavior, but believe that we can be healed. Chapter 1: The dog - his life and his actions. Diogenes was the embodiment of poverty. He lived in a barrel near the market in the city-state of Corinth. He possessed nothing except some old rags and a bowl for eating and drinking. When he saw a child drinking water using his hands, he threw away the bowl as well.

Although he was poor and rejected social norms and customs, he was not isolated from society. In fact, the strange man challenged people by engaging in conversations and confronting them with their faults. The famous philosopher Plato was a contemporary of Diogenes, who believed that ideas are the basis of reality. Diogenes, however, criticized him for being too theoretical. He often mocked Plato by disrupting his lectures. On one occasion, Plato received praise for his definition of a human being as 'a featherless biped.' In response, Diogenes plucked a chicken, entered Plato's academy, and said, Behold! I have brought you a man! In a way, we could see Diogenes as an anti-philosopher. He rejected the need for an elaborate ethical system and all kinds of academic authority. His philosophy was demonstrated through his actions, and this method was the key to his success: his realistic philosophy was easily accessible to the masses, and cynicism as a philosophical school would later flourish in Greece and Rome. Plato, despite recognizing Diogenes' brilliance and wit, disapproved of his obscene behavior, calling him Socrates gone mad. Plato certainly was not the only one he mocked. One day, he visited the market in broad daylight with a lantern, examining people.

At random, saying, I am looking for a human being. But I have not found any. Of course, he meant that everyone found in the market had already lost contact with their humanity. He tried to convey the same message by walking backward through the corridor. When people laughed at him, he challenged them by asking, Aren't you ashamed, you who walk backward along the entire path of existence, and blame me for walking backward along the promenade? End of quote. It was probably both funny and frustrating for Diogenes at the same time, seeing the blindness of the people to the situation they had built for themselves, and the ridiculous standards they expected each other to conform to. Therefore, Diogenes did not live just for himself: he also tried to enlighten the people around him. Many anecdotes describe Diogenes as like a dog or 'dog-like'. When asked why people described him that way, he replied, I serve those who give anything, I bark at those who refuse, and I put my teeth into scoundrels. However, one day he took his aspirations to be like a dog to a whole new level when a group of wealthy Athenians at a banquet disrespectfully threw bones at him. His response: to lift his leg and urinate on them. Diogenes was not married. He satisfied his sexual desires by masturbating, which he did, as expected, in public.

When he was ridiculed for this, he responded, I wish it were so easy to banish. Probably the most famous anecdote about Diogenes is the one where he mocked Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great was a king of Macedonia, and one of the most successful military commanders in history. During his reign, he was able to establish an empire that stretched from Greece to India. When Alexander stayed in Corinth, Diogenes paid no attention to him, unlike many other philosophers and statesmen who rushed to congratulate their monarch on his achievements. Alexander wanted to meet this dog-like man he had heard about, so he decided to look for him, and found him lying in the sun. As recorded by the ancient Greek philosopher Plutarch, I quote: Diogenes stood up a bit when he saw so many people coming towards him, and fixed his eyes on Alexander. And when the monarch approached him with greetings and asked if he wanted something, Yes... said Diogenes, ...just move a little out of my sun. End of quote. According to Plutarch, Alexander was struck by this treatment. Showing great admiration for Diogenes, he said to his followers, If I were not Alexander, I would wish to be Diogenes. There is no consensus on how Diogenes died. Some say he died of rabies (as he was always surrounded by his best friends: the dogs).

Others believe he died from food poisoning, and some say he ended his own life by holding his breath. Chapter 2: A Philosopher of Independence. Now, after sharing some of his anecdotes, let's explore why he did what he did and what Diogenes' philosophy implies. The Cynics pointed out the lack of meaning in civilized life, showing that humans are not inherently bad creatures, but have created a society that distances them from their true nature. Similar to Socratic thinking, the Cynics believed that virtue and happiness are in our own hands, and therefore, external things are irrelevant when it comes to achieving them. Like Socrates, Diogenes believed that a good life was a life of self-sufficiency. Because he owned nothing and desired nothing more than the satisfaction of his basic needs, it was easy for him to be content. He did not need things like material wealth and status to be happy, and he could not care less about what people thought of him. Diogenes enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, which are much easier to attain, as opposed to the benefits that society wants us to pursue, which often require a lot of effort to obtain. The philosopher Epicurus shared this view and also rejected the pursuit of pleasures that cost us more than what we actually receive. For example, the pursuit of material wealth. Diogenes considered money as the root of all evil.

And let's be honest: society expects us to break our backs beyond our means to achieve the superficial goals it imposes on us. Some people are even willing to commit immoral acts including violence and murder, just to make money. And for what? Most of the time, to buy things they don't need to impress people they don't even like. Therefore, when we remove social pressure from the equation, what is the point of pursuing material wealth? Diogenes felt compassion for all those people who are caught in the hamster wheel, running in the hope of getting what they will never have unless they break free from the social rat race, live a simple life that is natural for our species, and enjoy the present moment. He considered this a shortcut to virtue; a much easier and more convenient way to be happy. From Diogenes' point of view, dogs are great teachers on how to live in accordance with nature. They relax when they want to, eat when they are hungry (and whatever they can find), mate in public without shame, and live in the present moment without anxiety. Regarding the latter characteristic, we could say that many spiritual seekers are looking for what dogs already have. Although a life of poverty may seem like a disempowered position to be in: Diogenes' way of life made him extremely powerful. After all: he was independent of external factors, and therefore, no one could harm him.

He himself, and not the external world, was in control of his happiness. On the other hand, Diogenes sought to live a life of effort. Because by deliberately living a hard life, we not only make ourselves stronger, but also more capable of enjoying the little things. An example of this was that he often begged to statues, which he saw as a practice of being rejected. In summary: Diogenes the Cynic was infamous for behaving like a dog, living in a barrel with nothing but some old rags. He was a man of simplicity. His philosophy, Cynicism, is not based on complicated systems of ethics and vast academic works. Rather, it is based on actions. Diogenes criticized modern society and how it separates people from their true nature. His philosophy is understood as a cure for the lamentable human condition. It encourages us to live a life of work, break with convention, renounce the external, and enjoy the Here and Now. Diogenes practiced what he preached: his anecdotes portray his unconventional behavior. He truly did not care about the things that society tells us to worry about. Status, money, social norms: Diogenes ignored them all. There are quite a few similarities between Stoicism and Cynicism. Therefore, it is not surprising that Stoicism descends directly from Cynicism. The biographer Diogenes Laërtius wrote that Zeno, the founder of Stoicism, had written his

In the queue of a dog, as indicated by Crates, a sexually exhibitionist student of Diogenes. Stoicism is clearly a philosophy for those who seek to engage in society and work alongside their peers. Cynicism, on the other hand, is a philosophy for outcasts. However, both support the idea that the achievement of happiness, virtue, and inner peace is entirely within our control. Thank you for watching the video.

The Philosopher Who Urinated On People | DIOGENES

Einzelgänger

Diogenes the Cynic opposed social values and institutions, believing they conflicted with human nature and prevented true happiness.

He lived a life of poverty and obscenity to demonstrate his philosophy, leading to the nickname "the dog.

" The ancient cynics, including Diogenes, criticized human behavior and society but believed in the possibility of healing and living in accordance with true nature.

The Unconventional Life of Diogenes the Cynic

Diogenes, a contemporary of Plato, challenged societal norms through his provocative actions and rejection of academic authority.

His realistic and accessible philosophy laid the foundation for the flourishing of cynicism in Greece and Rome.

Diogenes' unconventional behavior, such as urinating on wealthy Athenians who disrespected him, and his public masturbation, reflected his dog-like philosophy of serving and barking at people.

The Life and Philosophy of Diogenes of Sinope

Diogenes of Sinope was a famous philosopher who famously mocked Alexander the Great and lived a life of extreme simplicity.

He believed in self-sufficiency, rejecting material possessions and the pursuit of wealth and status.

Similar to the Cynics and Socrates, he thought that virtue and happiness were within one's control, and he valued the simple pleasures of life over societal pursuits.

Diogenes the Cynic promoted a simple life free from the pursuit of material wealth and social norms, finding happiness in the present moment.

His philosophy focused on living in accordance with nature and rejecting the pressures of society.

Diogenes' Cynicism emphasized action over complex ethics, encouraging a break with convention and the renouncement of external desires.

Stoicism is a philosophy for actively engaging in society, while Cynicism is more for outcasts.

Both philosophies emphasize that happiness and inner peace are within our control.