Diogenes the Cynic

During the Peloponnesian War, the strategy adopted by Pericles was to barricade the city of Athens and the route to the port of Piraeus behind walls. The belief was that while the Spartans would ravage the hinterland, the Athenians would win the war from the sea. (Piraeus is today the Shipping capital of the world and I had written about it earlier). An unforeseen aspect of this strategy was that epidemics ravaged through the city due to the unsanitary conditions which decimated the local population. Within a few years temporary accommodation and numerous makeshift dwellings sprang up all over the city. One such dwelling place was jars. Eventually, one of the most celebrated philosophers of antiquity lived in one – Diogenes the Cynic!

Diogenes was a unique character. Despite being born to a wealthy family in Sinope, he ended up in Athens and lived as a mendicant. The philosophy that he espoused – Cynicism – held  a negative view of human behavior. The cynics rejected social norms, conventions, and deployed sarcasm as a potent tool to drive home their opinions. Diogenes was a living embodiment of Cynicism. Apart from living in a jar, he lived like a mendicant surviving on the alms of others and by foraging the leftover temple-offerings of the devout. For the alms received, Diogenes provided feedback and ‘gyan’. So as far as he was concerned, he wasn’t a parasite. He was also known to masturbate in public as the Cynics felt it was unnatural to hide sex from the public view.

In popular history, Diogenes is known for his celebrated encounter with Alexander who on meeting him offered to grant him whatever he wanted. To this, Diogenes asked him to move away as he was blocking the sun. Legend has it that both Diogenes and Alexander passed away on the same day (June 10 /11, 323 BC). Another popular story has him carrying a lantern during the daytime, claiming to be looking for an honest man but never finding one.

It is generally believed that Diogenes was tutored by Antisthenes who was taught by Socrates. Crates who was Diogenes’s disciple is widely regarded to have taught Zeno who in turn established the Stoic School of Philosophy. So Diogenes is a critical link that connects the Stoics with the Socratic School of Enquiry.

Diogenes’ death is also a matter of interesting folklore. Some believe he died due to old age (how boring!). Another set of historians ascribe his death to food poisoning from his attempt to eat a raw octopus to prove the pointlessness of cooking (how Diogenesian), while there’s also a record which says that he died due to deliberate asphyxiation in a gymnasium. (My vote is for the Octopus story).

Today, Diogenes Syndrome is a behavioral disorder characterized by squalor, social withdrawal and self-neglect. Once upon a time there lived a philosopher who lived out his life this way.

If you’re interested in an academic exploration of his thought, check out: The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic.