Among the early philosophers inspired by Socrates, Diogenes stands out as one of the most intriguing and unconventional figures. Known as the original Stoic, Diogenes rejected societal norms, choosing to live in a large wine cask and advocating for a lifestyle more akin to that of dogs than humans. His life was a series of bold challenges to societal values, marked by his sharp wit and shocking actions.
Diogenes’ life is shrouded in legend, making it difficult to separate fact from fiction. He was born in Sinope, a bustling Greek city on the Black Sea, between 412 and 403 BCE. His father, Hicesias, was a prominent civil servant in charge of the town mint, which afforded the family a comfortable lifestyle. However, a scandal involving tampering with the coinage led to the downfall of both father and son. Some accounts suggest Diogenes himself was involved, resulting in their exile from Sinope. While Hicesias reportedly died in prison, Diogenes managed to escape.
Forced to leave his home, Diogenes lost everything—his possessions, livelihood, and citizenship. He is said to have traveled to Delphi, where he sought guidance from the Oracle of Apollo on how to restore his reputation. The Oracle’s cryptic advice, “Deface the currency,” was interpreted by Diogenes as a call to challenge the false values of society.
Diogenes then moved to Athens, embracing his new status as a wanderer without a home or material possessions. He proudly called himself a “citizen of the world.” In Athens, he encountered the teachings of Socrates’ followers, including Plato and Antisthenes. Diogenes became a disciple of Antisthenes, who emphasized that virtue was demonstrated through actions, not words. Despite often irritating Antisthenes with his persistence, Diogenes was determined to learn from him.
Diogenes adopted a minimalist lifestyle, often reflecting on the contrast between his simplicity and others’ indulgence. An encounter with a mouse led him to realize that happiness could be found with minimal means. This epiphany inspired him to live ascetically, often sleeping outdoors and testing his endurance through extreme practices like rolling in hot sand or hugging cold statues.
His unkempt appearance earned him the nickname “the dog,” which he embraced, seeing dogs as models of natural living, free from material concerns.
Diogenes’ written works, if any, have not survived. Estimates of his output range from none to thirteen works. Accounts from others suggest he wrote provocatively, challenging conventional morality. Some believe later Stoics suppressed his writings to sanitize his image.
Unlike Socrates or Plato, Diogenes did not engage in intellectual debates or establish a philosophical school. He preferred solitude, except when attending athletic events, where he observed the crowd more than the athletes, often making outrageous comments.
Diogenes believed that private actions should be public, often shocking people with his public displays.
During a voyage to Aegina, Diogenes was captured by pirates. Despite his captivity, he maintained his stoic demeanor, criticizing the absurdity of human treatment compared to animals. When auctioned as a slave, he humorously claimed he was fit to “rule over men.” A Corinthian named Xeniades bought him, impressed by his wit, and made him a tutor for his sons. Diogenes spent the rest of his life in Corinth, where he was eventually freed.
When Alexander the Great visited Corinth, he sought out Diogenes, expecting admiration. Instead, Diogenes simply asked him to move out of the sunlight. Alexander, impressed, remarked that if he were not Alexander, he would wish to be Diogenes. Their interactions were marked by Diogenes’ sharp wit.
Diogenes believed true freedom came from self-mastery. He sought to achieve autonomy in all aspects of life. The Stoic philosopher Epictetus summarized Diogenes’ beliefs, emphasizing the importance of changing one’s practices and not blaming external factors for one’s circumstances.
Diogenes and Plato were contemporaries with opposing philosophical views. Diogenes often mocked Plato’s teachings, famously presenting a plucked chicken as “Plato’s man” during a lecture. He ridiculed Plato’s theories, highlighting the gap between practical reality and abstract concepts.
Despite his unconventional behavior, Diogenes was respected in Corinth and Athens. When a boy accidentally broke his clay tub, the citizens replaced it, showing their admiration.
Diogenes lived to around 90 years old, with varying accounts of his death. Some say he held his breath until he died, while others claim he ate raw octopus. Statues were erected in his honor in Corinth, Athens, and Sinope, celebrating his teachings on self-sufficiency and the virtues of a simple life.
Engage in a debate with your classmates by taking on the personas of Diogenes and Plato. Discuss their differing views on society, virtue, and the role of material possessions. Use historical context and philosophical arguments to support your stance. This activity will help you understand the contrasting philosophies and the impact of their ideas on modern thought.
Try living a day in the life of Diogenes by embracing minimalism. Document your experience by reducing your reliance on material possessions and reflecting on how it affects your daily life and mindset. Share your insights with the class to explore the practical implications of Diogenes’ philosophy on modern living.
Imagine you have discovered a lost manuscript of Diogenes. Write a short essay or dialogue that captures his provocative style and challenges conventional morality. Focus on themes such as self-mastery, societal norms, and the pursuit of virtue. This exercise will enhance your understanding of Diogenes’ philosophical approach and his impact on Stoicism.
Reenact the famous encounter between Diogenes and Alexander the Great. Assign roles and improvise the dialogue, focusing on Diogenes’ wit and Alexander’s reaction. Discuss the significance of this meeting and what it reveals about power, humility, and philosophical values. This activity will deepen your appreciation of historical interactions and their philosophical implications.
Take a walk around your campus or local area, observing the behavior of people and societal norms, much like Diogenes did at athletic events. Note your observations and consider how Diogenes might interpret these actions. Share your findings with the class to discuss how his philosophy can be applied to contemporary society and personal behavior.
Of the early philosophers who followed in the footsteps of Socrates, none was as striking or eccentric as Diogenes. He was the original Stoic, a man who rid himself of the trappings of society, living in an oversized wine cask and championing the lifestyle of dogs over humans. He challenged societal norms, shocking people with his outrageous actions and sharp wit. In today’s Biographics, we take a close look at the unusual life of Diogenes the Cynic.
**Beginnings**
The life of Diogenes is woven in legend and myth, making it difficult to ascertain the facts. We do know that he was born in the Greek city of Sinope between 412 and 403 BCE, the son of a prominent civil servant named Hicesias, who was the master of the town mint. This position would have provided the family with a higher standard of living than most people. Ancient biographers tell us that his fascination with philosophy began with a scandal involving his home city. Sinope was a busy seaport on the southern coast of the Black Sea, a crossroads between Crimea to the north and Upper Mesopotamia to the south. Many residents had been resettled from Athens, making the city a regional center of Greek culture. At some point, an accusation was made that Hicesias had been tampering with the coinage. One account claims that it was actually Diogenes himself who damaged the coinage. Regardless, both father and son were forced to flee the city. One account tells us that they were eventually caught, convicted, and sent to prison, with Hicesias dying in his cell while Diogenes managed to escape.
**Exile**
Now driven from his hometown, Diogenes lost his home, possessions, livelihood, and citizenship. Some accounts claim he traveled to Delphi, near Mount Parnassus, where the Oracle of Apollo was located. Diogenes is said to have consulted the Oracle to inquire how to restore his reputation. The Oracle replied, “Deface the currency.” Diogenes took this advice figuratively rather than literally, seeking to challenge the counterfeit moral values of society.
Diogenes then traveled to Athens in search of further enlightenment. He embraced his adverse situation as a virtue, asserting pride in being without a state, home, or material possessions, referring to himself as a cosmopolitan or “citizen of the world.” In Athens, he sought guidance from the famous orator Gorgias and came into contact with followers of Socrates, including Plato and Antisthenes. Diogenes chose to become a disciple of Antisthenes, who emphasized that virtue was expressed in actions rather than discourse. Diogenes became a constant companion to Antisthenes, often annoying him with his proximity. When Antisthenes warned him off, Diogenes famously replied, “Strike, for you will find no wood hard enough to keep me away from you, so long as I think you have something to say.”
Diogenes adopted Antisthenes’ style and humor, often reflecting on the contrast between his simple life and the indulgent lifestyles of others. One incident involved a mouse that crept up to him while he was trying to sleep, prompting him to reflect on his own situation. He concluded that if a mouse could be satisfied with crumbs, he too could find happiness with little means. This realization led him to embrace an ascetic lifestyle, traveling lightly and often sleeping outdoors. He was known for testing his mental fortitude through extreme practices, such as rolling in hot sand in summer and hugging cold statues in winter.
Diogenes made no attempts to groom himself, and his appearance was so unkempt that people referred to him as “the dog.” He embraced this label, seeing dogs as models of natural living, free from anxieties about the future and materialism.
**Writings**
It is unclear how many written works Diogenes produced, with estimates ranging from none to thirteen, none of which have survived. We rely on accounts from others about his writings. According to the writer Philodemus, Diogenes wrote controversial things, including that nothing in existence is naturally good. He also defended actions that were considered immoral. Philodemus claimed that later Stoics suppressed Diogenes’ works to clean up his image.
Unlike philosophers like Socrates and Plato, Diogenes did not seek to engage others in intellectual discussions or establish a philosophical school. He preferred solitude, with the exception of attending athletic contests, where he observed crowds more than athletes, often drawing attention with his outrageous comments and actions.
Diogenes reveled in flouting societal norms, believing that private actions should also be public. He was known for his public displays, which often shocked onlookers.
**Taken Captive**
During a voyage to Aegina, Diogenes was captured by pirates. The writer Philo of Alexandria recounts how he maintained his stoicism during captivity, criticizing the absurdity of humans being treated poorly while animals were fattened for sale. When he was put up for auction, he humorously claimed he was “good for ruling over men.” Eventually, he was purchased by a Corinthian named Xeniades, who was impressed with his wit and made him a tutor for his sons. Diogenes spent the rest of his life in Corinth, where he was eventually freed.
When Alexander the Great passed through Corinth, he sought out Diogenes, expecting admiration. Instead, Diogenes simply asked him to move out of the sunlight. Alexander, taken aback, remarked that if he were not Alexander, he would wish to be Diogenes. Their interactions continued, with Diogenes often using sharp wit to respond to Alexander’s remarks.
**Self-Mastery**
Diogenes believed that true freedom came from mastering oneself. He sought to achieve self-sovereignty in every area of his life. The Stoic philosopher Epictetus summarized Diogenes’ beliefs, emphasizing the need to change one’s practices and cease blaming external factors for one’s circumstances.
**Diogenes vs. Plato**
Diogenes and Plato were contemporaries, representing opposing philosophical views. Diogenes mocked Plato’s teachings, famously interrupting a lecture by presenting a plucked chicken as “Plato’s man.” He often ridiculed Plato’s theories, emphasizing the difference between practical reality and abstract concepts.
Despite his unconventional behavior, Diogenes became a figure of veneration in Corinth and Athens. When a boy accidentally broke Diogenes’s clay tub, the citizens were outraged and replaced it for him.
**The Death of Diogenes**
Diogenes lived to an old age of around 90 years, with conflicting accounts of his death. Some say he held his breath until he expired, while others claim he died after eating raw octopus. Statues were erected in his memory in Corinth, Athens, and his hometown of Sinope, with inscriptions celebrating his lessons on self-sufficiency and the path to a simple life.
Diogenes – An ancient Greek philosopher and one of the most famous figures of the Cynic school, known for his ascetic lifestyle and sharp wit. – Diogenes famously wandered the streets of Athens with a lantern in search of an honest man.
Philosophy – The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline. – Philosophy encourages students to question the nature of reality and our place within it.
Stoicism – An ancient Greek school of philosophy that teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. – Stoicism emphasizes the importance of accepting things we cannot change and focusing on our own responses.
Virtue – Behavior showing high moral standards, often considered a foundational concept in ethical philosophy. – Aristotle argued that virtue is a mean between two extremes, a balance that leads to moral excellence.
Simplicity – The quality or condition of being easy to understand or do, often associated with a minimalist lifestyle in philosophical contexts. – Thoreau’s philosophy of simplicity is evident in his experiment at Walden Pond, where he sought to live deliberately and with purpose.
Exile – The state of being barred from one’s native country, typically for political or punitive reasons, often explored in philosophical discussions on identity and belonging. – The philosopher Seneca wrote extensively about the virtues of exile, seeing it as an opportunity for personal growth and reflection.
Autonomy – The capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision, a central theme in moral and political philosophy. – Kant’s philosophy emphasizes the importance of autonomy in moral decision-making, arguing that true moral actions arise from free will.
Morality – Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior, a core subject in ethical philosophy. – Debates about morality often revolve around whether ethical principles are universal or culturally relative.
Self-mastery – The ability to control one’s own desires and impulses, a concept often discussed in the context of personal development and ethical living. – Plato believed that self-mastery was essential for achieving a just and harmonious soul.
Happiness – A state of well-being and contentment, often considered the ultimate goal in various philosophical traditions. – In his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle posits that happiness is the highest good and the end at which all our activities ultimately aim.
