4 representatives of CYNICISM in philosophy

In the class of a Professor we will meet the main cynical school representatives. Founded by antisthenes 445-365 B.C. c. and with great disciples like Diogenes of Sinope (400-323), hyperchia (350-310 B.C. C) or Crates of Thebes (368-288 B.C. c.).

This philosophical current has its origin in Ancient Greece (S.V-IV a. C.) and defended the idea that happiness can only be found through virtue. So every individual must reject all social conventions, everything material and the values ​​of fame, power and wealth.

If you want to know more about the representatives of cynicism in philosophy, in this lesson from a TEACHER we explain it to you. Let's travel to Ancient Greece!

Index

1. What is cynicism in philosophy
2. Antisthenes, one of the representatives of cynicism in philosophy
3. Diogenes of Sinope, another of the representatives of the Cynic school
4. Crates of Thebes
5. hyperchia

Before knowing who the main representatives of cynicism in philosophy are, it is necessary that you first know the context in which the ideology of this school is developed.

Thus, we know that this school was founded by antisthenes (disciple of Socrates), who defended an ascetic, simple way of life, far from luxury, in harmony with nature and far from the material.

Under these precepts he founded in a gymnasium in Athens the cynosargo school (agile or fast dog), where most of its members belonged to the more popular classes and were both men and women. For all these reasons, the philosophers of this doctrine were known as kyon (dog)=cynical.

Also, for their peculiar lifestyle and ideas, the cynics were highly criticized by other philosophers such as Aristotle or Plato. However, despite the large number of detractors, the cynical school had great representatives such as: Diogenes of Sinope (412-323 B.C. c.), hyperchia (350-310 B.C. c.), Crates of Thebes (368-288 B.C. c.), Menedemus (261 B.C. c.), Menippus (S.III a. c.), mony of syracuse (If you. C.)u Onesicritus of Astypalea (300 B.C. c.).

Finally, it should be noted that most cynics they did not write or did very little. Thus, the little we know about them is through the accounts of other authors such as Diogenes Laertius (180-240) in his work Life and opinions of illustrious philosophers.

Let's go study the main representatives of the cynical school.

He was the founder of cynicism and his aim was to develop a new way of approaching philosophy in the Athens of the V-IV centuries BC. c. Well, Antisthenes, who trained in rhetoric with the sophist Gorgias, he lost faith in philosophy, until he met Socrates and became his disciple. Moment in which he began to understand life and philosophy in a different way.

In this way, he began to spread new ideas in his school, the Cynosargo, located outside the walls of Athens and where challenged the convictions imposed or what was considered politically correct.

Between the ideas promulgated by Antisthenes, highlighted:

• mistrust and contempt for the norms imposed on society, such as: fame, wealth, superficiality and power.
• happiness consists of get rid of material goods (His followers of him wore a cape and a staff), renounce non-basic needs, lead an austere life /ascetic (of privations) and in harmony with nature.
• Life based on two principles: self-sufficiency/self-government (autarkeia) and apathy (aptheia).

He was a disciple of Antisthenes and the Maxime representation of the cynical school. In fact, Diogenes himself, carried out a life in accordance with the cynical doctrine, since it was said that he lived in a jar, surrounded by dogs and having as property a bag, a cloak, a staff and a bowl. It's more alfciphron (S.II a. C.) in his work Letters from him he describes it as follows:

“…A horrible and painful sight to watch, when he waves his dirty mane and looks at you insolently. He appears half naked, with a threadbare cape, a hanging bag and, in his hands, a mace made of wild pear wood. He goes barefoot, does not wash and lacks trade and benefits... "

Likewise, Diogenes stood out for disseminating the following philosophical premises:

• Substitute the values ​​of civilization for those of nature: man is an animal and he needs nothing more than nature. Hence, they were defined as "dog philosopher" or as Diogenes would say: "A dog that receives praise, but with which none of those who praise it wants to go hunting"
• Everything material is superficial and an impediment so that the human being develops his freedom. In fact, for Diogenes, the person who needs the least and the one who has less wealth is happier, which only leads to suffering.
• Criticism of the political model and the institutions that governed the Greek cities. He does not believe in the idea of ​​a city-state and defended a system close to the anarchism.

Crates of Thebes he is another of the main representatives of cynicism in philosophy. He was a disciple of Diogenes and the teacher of Zeno de Citio, founder of stoicism. So he stands as the link between two philosophical currents: cynicism and stoicism.

On the other hand, Diogenes Laertius describes him as a great philanthropist, a splendid speaker and how "the door opener”, Since, it is said that he entered the houses of the Athenians to preach the values ​​of simplicity and self-sufficiency with the aim of freeing them from social slavery.

Finally, it should be noted that he wrote several works and poems that have not reached our days in which, according to Diogenes Laertius, he promulgated the following ideas:

• Carry one simple life and get rid of the values ​​of civilization.
• Nature as maximum value: Man is an animal and he needs nothing more than nature.
• The independence and self-sufficiency of men and women, rejecting issues such as laws, the homeland, social differentiation and the State.
• Criticism of established norms and customs: For example, the idea of ​​marriage or showing off shamelessly publicly.
• Express your opinion on a matter directly and through the irony and mockery
• distrust of innocence, kindness and human sincerity.

hyperchia born in 346 B.C. c. in Maronea (Thrace) and from an early age showed great interest in the cynical philosophy. Hence, at the age of 15 he decided to enter the lifestyle of the cynical school of Crates of Thebes, with whom she would later marry.

According to Diogenes Laertius, he wrote several works (which have not reached our days) of a great philosophical quality, as Philosophical hypotheses, Epiqueremas and Questions to Theodore. In which He defended ideas like:

• Equality between men and women. All human beings are equal regardless of their sex or origin.
• Rejection of the imposed domestic model (oíkos) and defense of Cynical Eros and Kynogamia (Dog Marriage), where the public-private divide disappears.
• Criticism of the ideal of Greek upbringing and education (paideia). According to the Greek model, a citizen had to practice gymnastics and study music, dialectics or astronomy with the aim of achieving excellence (areté). However, for cynics like Hipparquia, education should focus on the development of the moral virtues for a better society.

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Antiseri and Reale. History of Philosophy. Vol. 1. Ed. Herder. 2010