Cynicism

Cynicism, when written with capital C, denotes a school of philosophy of the Cynics and social criticism founded by a man named Antisthenes in ancient Greece. However, when written in small letters, cynicism denotes cynical beliefs, such as believing that people are generally selfish and dishonest.

Followers of Cynicism often rejected the material comforts and social practices of the world around them, preferring to live as simply and as virtuously as possible.

Followers of this school of philosophy were known as Cynics. The Cynics often refused to bathe and were frequently found shouting incoherently in public areas. It is due to this reason they were sometimes called kuon, the Greek word for dogs. Therefore, these men also became known historically as the "dog philosophers".

Perhaps the best known follower of the Greek Cynicism movement was a man named Diogenes. Legend has it that Diogenes wandered the Greek countryside, allegedly on a never ending quest for an honest man. Honesty and virtue were key elements of the original Cynicism philosophy. The problem was that in the Cynics' eyes, few Greek politicians or prominent members of the ruling class had either of those qualities. Society in general was ruled by thoughts of personal gain, political corruption and meaningless rituals.

Nearby pages
Cynics, Cynthia Ozick, Cyprus, Cyrenaics, Cyrene