犬儒主义(英文版).docVIP

What’s Cynicism Cynicism, refers to the beliefs of an ancient school of Greek philosophers known as the Cynics. Their philosophy was that the purpose of life was to live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature. This meant rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, health, and fame, and by living a simple life free from all possessions. People could gain happiness by rigorous(严苛的) training living in a way which was natural for humans. Suffering was caused by false judgments of what was valuable the worthless customs and conventions which surrounded society. Many of these thoughts were later absorbed into Stoicism(禁欲主义) 3 main cynics Antisthenes An older contemporary of Plato A disciple(门徒，弟子) of Socrates He preached a life of poverty Diogenes of Sinope The disciple of Antisthenes (?) He embraced the ascetic(禁欲的) way of life lifestyle:self-sufficiency ,austerity(苦行), and shamelessness Asceticism： sleeping in a tub Shameless behaviour: eating raw meat Biting satire: bad people obey their lusts as servants obey their masters Crates of Thebes others The third figure who dominates Cynic history. He is said to have been a pupil of Diogenes (?) 2 origins of the Cynic In ancient times, the first Cynic Antisthenes, taught in the Cynosarges gymnasium（古希腊运动场） at Athens. Cynosarges means the place of the white dog Dog was thrown at the Cynics as an insult for their rejection of conventional manners. Diogenes, states other dogs bite their enemies, I bite my friends to save them. 4 reasons for why the Cynics are so named 1 The indifference of their way of life, like dogs, eat and go barefoot in public. 2 The dog is a shameless animal, and they make a cult(膜拜，崇拜) of shamelessness 3The dog is a good guard, and they guard the tenets（宗旨，原则） of their philosophy 4 The dog is a discriminating animal which can distinguish between its friends and enemies Fundamental principles 1The goal of life is happiness which is to live in agreement with Nature 2Happin