Joseph Pallattil

Cynicism is a school of philosophy in Socratic age. They are marked for their unconventional behaviour. They hold that the purpose of life is to live a life of virtue in agreement with nature (which calls for only the bare necessities required for existence). This means rejecting all conventional desires for health, wealth, power and fame, and living a life free from all possessions and property. The word ‘Cynic’originates from the Greek word ‘kynikos,’ meaning ‘canine’ or ‘dog-like.’

In the Cynic’s stream of philosophy, there comes the popular philosopher Diogenes the Cynic. It is said that Diogenes’ life might have been a better expression of his philosophy. He rejected all aspects of tradition, dictates of culture and the rules of civilised culture. For him, virtue was to be found in living according to one’s natural endowments, rather than seeking happiness in money, fame, the accumulation of objects or devotion to the dictates of society. He rejected social conventions. He begged for food, slept in an old wine barrel, wore a simple cloth, urinated publicly, defecated in theatre, advocated free love, ate whatever and whenever he wanted and engaged in open and shameless masturbation. He shouted at the people making fun of their conformity to the conventional patterns of life. The people shouted back, calling him a dog for living as he did. He was poor by the measures of the society, but by his own lights was happy, free and rich in virtue.

Some thinkers have pointed out similarities between Cynicism and Jesus’ teachings. Was Jesus influenced by Cynics? There was a place called Gadara, 30 kilometres from Nazareth. There were quite a number of Cynics living in that town. Jesus might have met the Cynics there. And, there is a biblical narrative in which Jesus comes across a lunatic, living in rags among the tombs, possessed by the demon legion. Some writers denote that this episode could point to an encounter between Jesus and a Cynic. Some argue that certain teachings of Jesus that praise poverty and simplicity are in line with Cynics teachings.

However, Cynicism could not survive. When Stoicism and Epicureanism emerged, Cynicism perished. The teachings of Cynics, such as praising poverty and simplicity, giving importance to one’s nature, appreciating the uniqueness and individual freedom,etc., are relevant even in the present scenario.