Ancient Cynicism – a way of life or philosophy? (original) (raw)

2001

Abstract

Article is devoted to the ethics of ancient Cynicism. It discusses the sources and the development of the philosophy of Cynicism. Cynics were not interested in speculative problems. They relied upon empiricism and common sense. Theory was not their end. Like the other Socratic schools, Cynics focused their attention on ethics. Nevertheless, their ethics were not the traditional ethical theory. It was the ethics of living and behaving. The principles of such ethics had to be confirmed by life itself. From an analysis of Cynical concepts of nature, culture, wisdom and asceticism, it follows that Cynics divided reality into two opposed parts – nature and civilization. They regarded the latter as dangerous and corrupting. The article shows that from the very beginning of Cynicism, its thinkers resembled the Stoics by their attempts to underline the importance of freedom and moral independence. Later, consideration of the concepts of autarky and apathy brought Cynicism and Stoicism even ...

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