Cynics - what is this? The founder of the school Kinikov

Cynics is the famous philosophical school of Ancient Greece, most of whose representatives were followers of Socrates' teachings. The thinkers of the school were also called cynics for their somewhat sullen character, strict views, discontent with the existing social, political and religious order.

The founder of the school of Cynics

The ideological leader and apologist of the teaching is Antisthenes. The philosopher was the son of a citizen of Athens and Thracian slave. Proceeding from this, Antisthenes was considered illegitimate and was doomed all his life to be in the status of an unqualified member of society.

Antisthenes was one of the most devoted and senior disciples of Socrates. Fascinated by the moral convictions and personality of the mentor, the young philosopher did not leave the teacher until the end of his days. After the death of Socrates, Antisthenes founded his own philosophical school in one of the gymnasiums of Athens, intended for illegitimate children.

Antisthenes tried to lead a life that matched his teaching. The philosopher did not bow to anyone, did not consider poverty a vice and deliberately showed his disdain for the holders of power. The sage spent days in meditation, leaving behind himself numerous volumes of works. His most famous followers of Crates and Diogenes believed that in all of Greece philosophers who are equal to Antisthenes in steadfastness, fearlessness and the ability to live according to their beliefs will not be found.

The school of the Cynics, the philosophy of Antisthenes was successful until the death of its founder. Later, more than 70 works of the thinker were included in the famous Alexandria library. After the death of Antisthenes, for 150 years actively promoted their views of the cynics. Skeptics, whose philosophy took many ideas from the cynical school, subsequently completely dissolved this teaching in their own.

Diogenes Sinopski

The most vivid follower of the teachings of Antisthenes was Diogenes. He became famous first of all for his numerous oddities. According to historical information that has reached our days, the philosopher loved to wander around the city with a lighted bulb in the middle of a white day. In such an unusual way the sage tried to find a "good man" in crowded streets.

Diogenes lived in poverty, dressed in clothes, which he gave citizens of the city, eating any food that came to hand. As a housing thinker, according to some sources, chose a large clay jug, and according to others - a wooden barrel. For conducting such an unusual way of life Diogenes was nicknamed "The Dog".

Once Diogenes invited a rich citizen of Athens to his house, hoping for a fascinating conversation with the sage. However, after seeing the luxurious furnishings of the premises, marble floors and numerous works of art, the philosopher did not talk to the hospitable person, but only turned around and left in silence. Later Diogenes explained his action by the fact that the house was not the best place to spit, in addition to the owner's face.

Crates from Thebes

Famous Cynics are not only Antisthenes and Diogenes. Another remarkable follower of the philosophical school was Crates. This thinker belonged to the category of wealthy citizens. However, carried away by the wisdom of the school of Cynics, he decided to abandon the luxurious life and high status in society. All the property of Krates bequeathed to his own son, provided that he does not wish to become a philosopher.

Like Diogenes, Crates preferred to spend time meditating, practicing a miserable way of life. The best student of the sage was his wife Hipparchia, who in her youth renounced her wealthy family and joined the school of Cynics.

The Teaching of Cynics

Cynics is a philosophical school that was founded in Athens at the turn of the 5-6th centuries by illegitimate members of society, the poor, and also by wandering thinkers. The reason for the formation of the school was the protest of the poor against the deterioration of social conditions, increased political oppression and economic instability in the state. The basic ideas of the teachings, which assumed the conduct of a beggarly life, similar to a canine one, quickly found their followers throughout ancient Greece.

What did the Cynics learn? The philosophy of this school offered the population a specific world view, which presupposed a categorical rejection of consumer values and slaveholding views, laws, morals, traditions and customs that prevailed in society. At the same time, the Cynics were not ascetics. Representatives of the school tried to conduct active activities, propagandizing the ideals of freedom, contempt for luxury. The postulates of the exercise were aimed at simplifying life, achieving equality, promoting cosmopolitan views.

The philosophy of the Cynics found adherents among people who lost hope for a bright future, realized the injustice of the laws, were disappointed in the promises of politicians. The followers of the teaching were not only engaged in propaganda of their ideals, but also practiced their own principles in life. Cynics tried to limit themselves as much as possible in needs, refused material benefits. The Socratic school of the Cynics considered the highest good the lack of traction to a certain place of residence, lack of rest in general.

Ethics of Cynics

Considering which ethics was preferred by the Cynics, the basic ideas of the philosophical school, it is worth noting that the founder of the teachings of Antisthenes taught his followers to distinguish "one's" from "another's". According to the sage's opinion, only his inner freedom, but not property, can be good for a person.

The main ethical principle of the Cynics was virtue, which was considered the only good. In turn, the source of evil was vice. All the rest, in addition to these concepts, was indifferent to the sages of the philosophical school.

Views on social life and the state

Cynics are thinkers who believed that a person should not be enslaved by prejudices in society, try to conform to outside opinion. Crates and Diogenes purposely went against the generally accepted norms, trampled upon unjust laws. The philosophers deliberately started heated arguments in the streets, which reached quarrels. Thus, the followers of the school of Cynics taught themselves not to attach importance to human abuse.

According to the cinematic philosophy, members of society are divided into stupid and wise. The first are slaves who do not have their own opinion and consciousness, devoid of good, true joy in life. In turn, the sages, who renounced everything, have true freedom and independence. An intelligent person does not live according to written laws, but relies on internal ethics.

The ideal state in the eyes of the Cynics was the human community, for which there are no boundaries, institutions, laws, material wealth. In other words, the ideal for the representatives of the philosophical school was a man who returned to his natural state in nature.

Relation to religion

What was the attitude towards the religion of the Cynics? The philosophy of the school formed purely negative views on any cults. After all, a true cynic that lives according to the principles of teaching, religion could not give anything positive. The ideological leaders of the school considered the human mind the only deity. Everything else was perceived as a product of fantasy, as well as the delusions and limitations that prevailed throughout society.

Characteristic features of the philosophy of Cynics

The main postulates of the followers of the teaching were:

• The attainment of absolute freedom by renouncing social life;
• Voluntary rejection of material goods;
• Wandering, the lack of a permanent home, the satisfaction of basic needs by begging;
• Neglect of hygiene, preference for worse living conditions;
• Praising poverty;
• Harsh criticism of idealistic teachings;
• Non-recognition of the power of man and gods;
• Lack of patriotism and cosmopolitan views;
• The concentration of attention of others on human vices, criticism of the worst human traits.

Finally

Cynics is a special philosophical school whose members, probably because of their low social status, did not recognize any power over themselves. Later, from the vivid antisocial behavior of the Cynics, the term "cynicism" occurred, which calls into question all that exists. The wide dissemination and popularity of the teaching in ancient Greece at the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 6th century meant that society at that time needed to abandon the slaveholding principles and satisfy the aspirations of the impoverished, disenfranchised sections of society.