This philosopher was called Socrates, who had gone mad. He was smart and sharp on the tongue, subtly noticed all the shortcomings of the individual and society. Diogenes of Sinop, whose works came to us only in the form of paraphrases of later authors, is considered a mystery. He is both a seeker of truth and a sage to whom it was revealed, a skeptic and critic, uniting link. In a word, a man with a capital letter, from whom you can learn a lot and modern people, accustomed to the benefits of civilization and technology.
Diogenes of Sinop and his lifestyle
Many people remember from school that Diogenes was the name of a man who lived in a barrel in the middle of Athens Square. A philosopher and an eccentric, he, nevertheless, has glorified his name for centuries thanks to his own teachings, later called cosmopolitan. He severely criticized Plato, pointing to this ancient Greek scientist on the shortcomings of his philosophy. He despised fame and luxury, laughed at those who glorify the powerful of the world in order to be held in high esteem. He preferred to lead an ascetic lifestyle: the clay barrel, which often could be seen on the agora, served as his home. Diogenes of Sinope traveled extensively on Greek policies, and considered himself a citizen of the whole world, that is, space.
Way to the truth
Diogenes, whose philosophy may seem contradictory and strange (and all due to the fact that his work did not reach us in its original form), was a student of Antisthenes. History says that at first the teacher strongly disliked the young man who was looking for the truth. That's because he was the son of a money changer, who not only was in prison (for money transactions), but also did not have the best reputation. Respectable Antisthenes tried to drive away the new student, and even pounded him with a stick, but Diogenes did not budge. He longed for knowledge, and Antisthenes had to open them to him. Diogenes Sinopsky considered his credo that he should continue the work of his father, but on a different scale. If his dad spoiled the coin in the literal sense, then the philosopher decided to spoil all the established cliches, destroy traditions and prejudices. He wanted, as it were, to erase from the consciousness of people those false values that were planted by him. Honor, fame, wealth - all this he considered a fake inscription on low-grade coins.
A citizen of the world and a friend of dogs
The philosophy of Diogenes of Sinop is special and ingenious in its simplicity. Despising all material goods and values as such, he settled in a barrel. True, some researchers believe that this was not an ordinary barrel in which water or wine was stored. Most likely, it was a large jug, which was of ritual significance: in primitive society they were used for burial. The philosopher ridiculed the established norms of clothing, rules of behavior, religion, lifestyle of citizens. He lived like a dog - for alms, and often called himself a four-legged animal. For this he was called a cynic (from the Greek word for dog). His life is entangled not only with many secrets, but also in comic situations, he is the hero of many jokes.
Similarities with other teachings
The whole essence of the teaching of Diogenes can fit into one sentence: live, content with what you have, and be thankful for it. Diogenes Sinopsky negatively regarded art as a manifestation of unnecessary benefits. After all, a person should study not phantom matters (music, painting, sculpture, poetry), but himself. Prometheus, who brought fire to people and taught to create various necessary and unnecessary objects, considered rightly punished. After all, titanium helped people create complexity and artificiality in modern life, without which it would be much easier to live. In this, Diogenes philosophy is similar to Taoism, the teachings of Rousseau and Tolstoy, but more stable in views.
Fearless to recklessness, he calmly asked Alexander of Macedon (who had conquered his country and came to meet the famous eccentric) to leave and not to close the sun to him. The teachings of Diogenes help get rid of fear and all who study his works. Indeed, on the path to striving for virtue, he got rid of worthless earthly goods, acquired moral freedom. In particular, it was this thesis that was accepted by the Stoics, who developed it into a separate concept. But the Stoics themselves were not able to abandon all the advantages of a civilized society.
Like his contemporary Aristotle, Diogenes was cheerful. He did not preach a departure from life, but merely called for estrangement from external, fragile goods, thereby laying the foundations of optimism and a positive outlook on all occasions. Being a very energetic man, the philosopher from the barrel was the exact opposite of the boring and venerable sages with their teaching, intended for people weary.
The meaning of the philosophy of the sage from Sinop
The lit lamp (or torch, according to other sources), with which the ancient Greek philosopher looked for a person during the day, even in ancient times became an example of contempt for the norms of society. This special outlook on life and values attracted other people who became followers of the madman. And the teaching of the Cynics was recognized as the shortest path to virtue.