The Philosopher Who Urinated On People | DIOGENES

Diogenes strongly opposed social values and institutions, because, according to him, these are at odds with human nature.

He believed that human society infused us with all kinds of unnatural desires that are not only obsolete but also prevent us from being happy. Therefore, we should strip ourselves of these corrupting man-made constructs, so we’re able to live how we’re supposed to live: in agreement with nature.

Diogenes’ stance toward everything cultured was very obvious. He practiced what he preached, behaving obscenely, with no regard for convention. It’s no surprise that people called him ‘doggish’, dog-like, or simply ‘the dog’.

This video explores Diogenes’ philosophy, and what we can learn from his ideas.

Cuts, voice, footage, script by Einzelgänger. I also used Creative Commons, licensed material from Storyblocks, and Pixabay (links available upon request).

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#cynics #cynicism #diogenes

[Einzelgänger]

Hi all, I know: Plato said "featherless biped" and not "featherless chicken". My mistake!

[WorgenGrrl]

Alexander: "If I were not Alexander, I think I would like to be Diogenes."
Diogenes: "If I were not Diogenes, I would like to be Diogenes"

[ethanchung]

Smart man! He’s lucky they didn’t tax him for living in a barrel at that time though

[PowerMatrixAnime]

Diogenes the dog was an interesting figure and certainly not a hypocrite. Evan Alexander the great admired him.

[ZachGood]

If Diogenes was a neighborhood kid in the 1960s, my grandparents would've said he's "quite a character."

[ND-hgui]

"I'm looking for a human being", I guess we all feel like this.

[monstrosite]

"Wealth is in not having too many great possessions but in having a few wants. " Epictetus

[AristonSparta]

So there were trolls in the ancient times.

[db]

I bet when people told him to piss off they didn't think he would take it quite literally.

Commoner: "Why don't you piss off Diogenes!"

Diogenes: "well don't mind if I do ;)"

[jasoncherry]

Diogenes was the first real example of a Cosmopolitan individual, no matter where he went he could make himself at home. He wasn’t bound by social norms and freed himself of the anxieties these social norms carry. He showed the world that one can be completely self-sufficient and find contentment and happiness in the simple things. People may have ridiculed him then but he has become an example on philosophical resistance over social control and false virtues. He was so grounded in his philosophical lifestyle that even ALEXANDER THE GREAT showed him respect. Not an easy thing to accomplish and he did it by just being true to himself. We can learn a lot from Diogenes, especially now with society becoming more self absorbed and morally corrupt than ever, a little of Diogenes’ self-sufficient resilience and philosophical wisdom could do all of us some good. No totalitarian government can control a society of philosophers, they are check against corruption and social injustice and carry the torch of creative ideas, critical thinking and moral virtue. There’s a statue of Diogenes in both Corinth and Sinope today, that should say something for the impact he had on Greek culture on even modern culture because we are still praising him today. He was “The Dude” of the ancient world.

[maxallan-patel]

Be yourself and you will never get lost.

[abid]

yesterday I was reading about Diogenes. I was thinking a lot about his philosophy when the thought occurred to me "I wonder if Einzelgänger has a video on him." I checked today and saw this video had been posted just half an hour ago.

[ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣΤΣΑΛΑΜΠΟΥΝΗΣ]

There is also another anecdotal incident regarding the most beautiful harlot of Corinth Lais, who was angry because Diogenes despised her beauty. So, to avenge him she offered him a night with her for free. But, after she put out the lantern, she switched places with her old and ugly maid. When the next day she tried to mock him publicly, for this prank she set on him, Diogenes replied: "After the lantern is put out every looks the same."

[ujjwalbhatt]

Alexander once asked Diogenes to ask for anything he want Diogenes asked him to get out of his sunshine. 🤷🏻‍♂️ This dude was complete Savage and a first hippie xD

[High_Rate]

Today he would be called homeless and mentally ill. He would also be walked over and ignored on the street because most do not pay attention to homeless.

[BlackUniGryphon]

There's way more to the story of Diogenes than just a crazy man living on the street preaching at people. Did you know he used to be wealthy? His father was the head of the Monetary hierarchy and minted the money coins. But, the currency was debased and he was banished and exiled. The reason for his attitude and his disdain for social hangups, status symbols, and other problems with society was because of what happened to him.

He was made into a slave, but the thing that saved him, and brought him back home by middle age was his mind, and his intellect. He lived at the top, the highest of highs, and crashed to the lowest of lows, and humility. So, when he finally got back to talk with his fellow Philosophers he could counter argue anything they thought, stated, arrested, or believed in out of spite. He had a kind of extreme reverse psychology, and on principle would follow through on all ideas just because he could.

He had a very snarky sarcasm, and was very witty. As disgusting as he was, many people would hang out with him, including the youth. Regardless of how stinky, and filthy he was, his mind was brilliant. People still valued him for that despite and in spite of, his filthiness. The reason you couldn't convince him to be hygienic or polite was because he could counter argue any justification on any technicality. He knew not everyone they was behaving polite was actually being polite inside, and that they had different motives for doing so rather than to be good. He knew slavery existed, and that people treated them poorly. It's no wonder he was misanthropic and preferred dogs because dogs were always loving to him, whereas human beings had been so cruel.

He was a more extreme version of Socrates whom also often lived out on the streets and was an iconoclast. Diogenes had a large group of followers that he preached to. The establishment tried to stop it which made it grow.

Many religions later on all ripped off Diogenes, like John the Baptist. So obviously a rip-off.

Today, Diogenes would be very much like a stand up comedian that speaks truth to power, or an avant garde artist that does "performance arts" as a form of protest, or to make a statement.

[justanameonyourscreen]

Now this man...he is my spirit animal...

[achinthmurali]

R Kelly wants to know how he got away with it.

[asheeshtyagi]

The man had no philosophy, he had life itself

[dannymeyer]

Observing modern times humanity is pretty much the same.