Once regarded as a minor Socratic school, Cynicism is now admired as one of the more creative and influential philosophical movements in antiquity. First arising in the city-states of late classical Greece, Cynicism thrived through the Hellenistic and Roman periods, until the triumph of Christianity and the very end of pagan antiquity. In every age down to the present, its ideals of radical simplicity and freedom have alternately inspired and disturbed onlookers. This book offers a survey of Cynicism, its varied representatives and ideas, and the many contexts in which it operated. William Desmond introduces important ancient Cynics and their times, from Diogenes 'the Dog' in the fourth century BC to Sallustius in the fifth century AD. He details the Cynics' rejection of various traditional customs and the rebellious life-style for which they are notorious.
The central chapters locate major Cynic themes (nature and the natural life, Fortune, self-sufficiency, cosmopolitanism) within the rich matrix of ideas debated by the ancient schools. The final chapter reviews some moments in the diverse legacy of Cynicism, from Jesus to Nietzsche.
By:
William D. Desmond
Imprint: Acumen Publishing Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 216mm,
Width: 138mm,
Weight: 453g
ISBN: 9781844651283
ISBN 10: 1844651282
Series: Ancient Philosophies
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 27 August 2008
Audience:
College/higher education
,
General/trade
,
Primary
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Abbreviations Introduction 1. Ancient Cynics and their times 2. Renunciation of custom 3. A life according to nature 4. Chance, fate, fortune and the self 5. Anarchists, democrats, cosmopolitans, kings 6. Cynic legacies Notes Glossary of names Glossary of terms Guide to further reading Bibliography Index
William Desmond is a Lecturer in the Department of Ancient Classics at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
Reviews for Cynics
Another fine addition to Acumen's excellent Ancient Philosophies series ... an ideal entry-level text to this particular branch of Greek philosophy. - Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society Desmond's Cynics succeeds in making the key ideas accessible and intelligible to the introductory reader. Desmond's knowledge of and fluency in the literature of ancient Cynicism is unquestionable. The book is a treasure trove of information on the various ways the Cynics and the idea of Cynicism have appeared in history and literature from antiquity to contemporary times. - Bryn Mawr Classical Review A clear and readily accessible introduction to Cynicism. - Margarethe Billerbeck, University of Fribourg
