Cynicism at it’s Best

Philosophy is like a buffet for your brain there’s something for everyone! You’ve got stoicism, which is basically the ancient version of “keep calm and carry on,” nihilism, where you might feel like, “Why bother?” and absurdism, which laughs in the face of life’s chaos like a toddler throwing spaghetti at the wall.

Each of these schools of thought is trying to give us tips on thinking, acting, and figuring out what’s right and wrong.

But seriously, have you guys ever thought that Philosophy is too elaborated? It’s like puzzled up thoughts where philosophers have cranked out endless pages of text- written records.

Let’s be honest, how much of that really hits home for us? Sometimes, it feels like they’re speaking in a secret code while we’re just trying to figure out where we left our keys.

Some of it does resonate, for sure! Take Descartes’ famous line, “I think, therefore I am.”, the craziest philosopher of all time.

Diogenes was born around 400 BCE in the ancient Greek colony of Sinope, which is now in Turkey. Right from the start, he was anything but ordinary. While other philosophers tried to look smart and act respectful, Diogenes chose to live in a big wine jar instead of a house.

A strange choice, isn’t it?!

He spent his days begging for food and doing things that shocked everyone. Imagine walking down the street and seeing a guy casually using the bathroom in public or spitting on people just for fun. It wasn’t just rude, it was Diogenes being Diogenes, breaking all the rules of his time.

He used his crazy behavior to show that life could be simpler if we didn’t worry about others’ opinions. In a world of fancy homes and polite philosophers, he was the wild one.

Because of his wild behavior, one day a guy called Diogenes as a dog and threw bones at him. Instead of getting mad, Diogenes calmly walked over and peed on the bones! The man was shocked, and Diogenes asked, “Why call me a dog if you’re surprised when I act like one?”

Talking about taking the phrase “you are what you eat” to a whole new level!

Diogenes didn’t just relieve himself in public he believed that sexual acts should be free of shame. His philosophy was simple: if it’s not shameful in private, it shouldn’t be shameful in public. “Who are we kidding?” he probably thought.

Imagine him shrugging and saying, “If I can’t do it in my living room, where can I?”

He believed that philosophers complicated their life with silly rules that went against our true nature. Most people followed these rules blindly, lacking self-control and doing pointless things-like trying to fold a fitted sheet.

Once, while speaking, Diogenes noticed no one was listening. So, he started making odd noises, and instantly everyone turned to look! He sighed, realizing that nonsense grabs attention way faster than wisdom. But hey, isn’t that just the secret to going viral on social media today? Because who needs meaningful content when you can just make weird sounds, right?

He was one of those philosophers who really knew how to stir the pot. Some of his teachings, like being open about sexual freedom and even the extreme idea of cannibalism, made people raise their eyebrows and question his philosophy.

It’s hard to pin down exactly what he believed, though, since much of his life remains a mystery.

What we do know is that his lifestyle was anything but ordinary. So, what was it that made him so cynical about life? Why do we call him Diogenes the Cynic?

Diogenes had an eye-opening moment one day. While everyone else was busy partying and showing off their wealth, he noticed some rats happily eating crumbs from his plate.

It was a real “aha!” moment for him.

As he watched a tiny mouse scurry around, carefree and unbothered by the darkness or the need for a warm bed, a light bulb went off in his head. He realized that true happiness doesn’t require much at all! Meanwhile, most people were frantically chasing after money, convinced it would bring them joy, yet they found themselves emptier than before.

Determined to shake things up, Diogenes set out to mock society, revealing just how out of touch people had become with what really mattered. Even the philosophers those wise thinkers who were supposed to have all the answers were drowning in their own fame and material possessions.

This fueled his biting criticism and gave birth to his cynical view of life. It’s like he became the voice of reason in a world obsessed with glitter, shouting, “Happiness isn’t found in gold! It’s in the crumbs we ignore!

Cynicism is basically the belief that most people are just out for themselves instead of genuinely wanting to be good. It’s a feeling we all get the fear that our friendships and relationships are just transactions. You know, like, “Hey, you’re my friend because I have a car, right?”

So, did Diogenes believe we humans are just self-serving, greedy little creatures? Well, kind of-yet not really. He had this wild idea that deep down, people are good, but we’ve tangled ourselves up in societal norms, leading us to misery central.

Picture him laughing at our rigid customs, not because he wanted to throw a social riot, but to show how absurd they could be. He wasn’t some joyless grump; he loved life’s simple pleasures-like sunlight, nature, and dogs.

Yes, he proudly claimed to be a “King among men” while living in a barrel, which is peak irony, but he felt wealthy enough in spirit to ditch material stuff.

Diogenes even took a lantern to the marketplace, claiming to be searching for an honest man, because apparently, Athens was a hotspot for fakes.

When people called him a “dog” to insult him, he took it as a compliment because dogs live honestly and freely without stress. They eat whatever is offered, sleep anywhere, and are content, exactly how Diogenes wanted to live.

A big part of his philosophy was about self-sufficiency and independence. Diogenes didn’t just want people to see how cynical the world is; he wanted them to rise above it.

Acknowledging that life can be transactional is one thing, but taking action or preparing for it is another. He even begged in front of statues to get used to rejection.

Rejection is a part of life, and Diogenes wanted us to accept it instead of running away from it. This connects to the idea that our happiness is our own responsibility. Diogenes believed in embracing discomfort.

He rolled in the hot sand to toughen himself up for life’s challenges. This might sound extreme, while this example might sound a little too much, it’s essentially the same as people who take cold showers in freezing temperatures when they could’ve just stayed in bed where it’s warm. Why you do this? Because once you face that discomfort, everything else like a sunny day or a dog’s affection feels like a wonderful gift.

Diogenes might look crazy, but his ideas are surprisingly relatable. He made fun of wealth and society’s silly rules, showing us that true value comes from who we are, not what we own.

Even when he was enslaved, he never felt inferior-he thought slave owners

he thought slave owners needed masters too! Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Diogenes laughed at life’s absurdities.

He found joy in simple things, like a good meal, which made him happier than many rich folks. When someone asked him what he was good for, he jokingly said, “Ruling over men,” his confidence in a tough situation.

Stay strong, folks, and happy learning!