Ancient Philosophy · Part 18 · The Hellenistic schools · B1–B2
Diogenes and the Cynics
Part 18 of Ancient Philosophy: Diogenes lived in a storage jar, owned almost nothing, mocked kings and philosophers alike, and called himself a citizen of the world. His followers, the Cynics, “the dogs”, taught that people need far less than they think. Necessity (needn’t, don’t need to, don’t have to, need to), with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
Kynikoi, the doglike ones. Their founder lived in a jar, ate in the market and barked at anyone who annoyed him.
There is one in our harbour now, with a stick and a cloak. The children throw figs at him.
Then you will understand him better after tonight.
Diogenes was born in Sinope, on the Black Sea, around 412 BCE. Ancient writers say he was exiled for “defacing the currency”, perhaps literally, as the son of a moneyer, perhaps as a symbol of rejecting society’s values. He came to Athens, lived in a large clay storage jar, and owned a cloak, a stick and a bag.
The Cynics taught that happiness comes from living according to nature, with as few needs as possible, free from wealth, reputation and social rules. They spoke shockingly, did in public what others did in private, and treated kings and beggars alike.
Diogenes is said to have written books, including a shocking Republic; all are lost. What survives is a mass of short anecdotes, chreiai, collected long after his death. Some are probably true; many were invented because they fitted his character.
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