A History of Cynicism. From Diogenes to the 6th Century A.D.

From the library of Prof. Wolfgang Haase, long-time editor of ANRW and the International Journal of the Classical Tradition (IJCT). - Minimally rubbed, partly bleached cover, allover very good and clean. / Minimal berieben, insgesamt sehr gut und sauber. - Contents: I. Antisthenes. No direct connexion with cynics. His ethis. -- II. Diogenes and his Associates -- III. Cynicism in the Third Century B.C. -- IV. Cynicism and the philosophical schools in the third century -- V. Cynic influence on hellenistic literature -- VI. Cynicism in the Second and First Centuries B.C. -- VII. Demetrius. The 'Philosophic Opposition' in the First Century A.D. -- VIII. Cynicism in the Second Century A.D. -- IX. Cynicism and the Philosophic Schools in the First and Second Centuries A.D. -- X. Cynicism from the Third to the Sixth Centuries A.D. - The Emperor Julian, speaking of the Cynic philosophy, says that � it has been practised in all ages . it does not need any special study, one need only hearken to the god of Delphi when he enjoins the precepts � know thyself � and � alter the currency � �. In claiming the Delphic god as the founder of Cynicism Julian is guilty of an obvious anachronism ; for Cynicism cannot be shown to antedate Diogenes of Sinope. But from the fourth century b.c. Cynicism endured to the last days of the ancient world ; Cynics were common in the days of Augustine ; they may have been known in the Empire of Byzantium. Long life is not of itself a criterion of worth ; and it cannot be denied that Cynicism survived when much of immeasurably greater intellectual value perished. To the student of ancient philosophy there is in Cynicism scarcely more than a rudimentary and debased version of the ethics of Socrates, which exaggerates his austerity to a fanatic asceticism, hardens his irony to sardonic laughter at the follies of mankind, and affords no parallel to his genuine love of knowledge. Well might Plato have said of the first and greatest Cynic, � That man is Socrates gone mad.� But to the student of social history, and of ancient thought as distinct from philosophy, there is much of interest in Cynicism. The Cynics are the most characteristically Greek expression of that view of the World as Vanity Fair, and the consequent rejection of all current values, and the desire to revert to a life based on the minimum of demands. It is a phenomenon to be found at several stages of Western civilization ; at different periods the moving causes have been political or economic injustice, religious enthusiasm, or reaction from an over-developed urban civilization. ISBN 9780890053652