CYNICS

John, “Steve,” Michael, “Andy”:

As per our previous, unresolved conversation:

Cynicism: An attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others.

This is an approximate definition, which we of course already covered. Cynicism comes from an ancient sect of Greek philosophy that can loosely be called a school, and originates either with Anisthenes or Diogenes of Sinope (see Fig. 1), or both or neither.

The origins of the word come from the Greek word ‘kunikos’ or “dog-like,” which has something to do with the basic mode of behavior of the ancient Cynics – like dogs. The Cynics strove to expose the arbitrary and potentially damaging aspects of cultural, civilized norms. Thus they would bark at people and pee wherever and eat and sleep and screw at leisure.

In a linguistic irony, the Cynics opposed dogmatism. Droll.

In addition to exposing the fallacies of civilization, the Cynics also taught us the fruitlessness or organizing politically around a Poop-Where-Thou-Will platform. Any wonk worth his salt knows the Don’t-Shit-Where-You-Eat lobby is just too powerful.

The Cynic school of thought died out in the 6th Century CE, and is said to have influenced any number of different philosophical and political movements, from Christians, who respected the asceticism of the cynics (some also turned away the standard comforts of civilization), to the stoics, and the anarchists. Hercules was supposed to be a big deal for the Cynics. I wonder why not Zeus? Turning into a dog to have sex whenever you want seems a lot closer to what the Cynics where aiming at.

Modern day Cynics are known as Hippies and Assholes.

As for how the Cynics gave us the word cynics, I found no evidence. It may have to do with Diogenes futile search for an honest man – he was the guy with the lantern.

My theory that they involved themselves in some political debate that resulted in the tag and the shift of meaning holds no water. In any case, there is not a straight line from the Cynincs to the cynincs. So we are where we started.

The best translation of the word cynic is the Italian ‘cinisimo.’