What is Cynicism? (Ancient Philosophy)

An explanation of the ancient Greek school of philosophy: Cynicism, including the story of Diogenes of Sinope, Crates, and Hipparchia, as well as the influence of Cynicism on Stoicism and Christianity.

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Information for this video gathered from The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, The Oxford Companion to Philosophy, The Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, The Collier-MacMillan Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Dictionary of Continental Philosophy, and more!

[EngGear]

"If we were all cynics, there would be no one to beg from."

[subliminallime]

The cynic's claim that all non human animals are self sufficient is incorrect. Ants, bees, lions, wolves, most primates including humans, etc are social species with their own particular social norms.

Also, why would they beg for food when they could just steal it? Respect for property rights is a social norm, which is something they reject, so...

[tcorourke]

My favorites. I praise you and your efforts as a form of encouragement.

[scoon]

The lineage of cynics did not die out.. its just that the philosophy spread into the masses and it would go against itself to name a single one. You can be the next cynic, i am a cynic.

[dixztube]

Me and mom both were wrong about this word lol

[Backwoodsandblades]

Well done. I am on the road to Diogenes via Thoreau. I married only for love, and our only ambition is to live like a coyote. A dog is too cilvilized now.

[Laotzu.Goldbug]

I guess there is some deep irony in Cynics advocating for self-sufficiency when the archetypal one was literally a social parasite.

[sgt]

There are imumerable outside forces that pressure us to conform in various ways.

I often feel I can't think, decide, or act because outside forces do this for me (often to my detriment).

Yet to even learn to speak or adopt the cynics' philosophy (or even survive sometimes) I need the help of others or of society in general.

So to be a cynic may involve taking the necessary benefits of society and then abandoning it.

This might appear selfish but I prefer death to total or almost total conformity.

I am reminded here of the film "Into the Wilderness".

Perhaps I can't live with or without society.

Anyway, these days I prefer less of it.

[anastasiadunbar]

1:33 Ahh, I see.. so... cynics are furries!

[michaelhegwood]

I wonder how many people in the comments will post quotes from people like Carlin and Hemingway so they can feel smart?

[philosophyversuslogic]

Hipparchia was Cynicist? This wondered me to think were there among skeptics any woman?

[north_star_yt]

Cynicism isn’t about being virtuous for me.

[horseheadkid]

sinope - not sigh-nope, but sin-o-pey

[saimbhat]

Why does modern day internet trolling have bad connotations ?
If people are prevented from trolling on internet, they will eventually start trolling on streets albeit in different and dangerous forms. Modern day universal nihilism begs nihilistic actions to maintain functionality, coherence and sanity of people. Trolling is just the nihilism in action.