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When Was Cynicism Created?

Marcus Vance • • 6 min read
When Was Cynicism Created?

The philosophy of Cynicism, as a way of life and thinking was founded by Diogenes of Sinope

Diogenes of Sinope
He was born in Sinope, an Ionian colony on the Black Sea coast of Anatolia (Asia Minor) in 412 or 404 BC and died at Corinth in 323 BC. Diogenes was a controversial figure. His father minted coins for a living, and Diogenes was banished from Sinope when he took to debasement of currency.
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circa 380 BC, and like Stoicism later on, emphasized the value in living virtuously and in agreeance with nature.

Who started Cynicism?

Antisthenes, a disciple of Socrates, is considered to be the founder of the movement, but Diogenes of Sinope embodied for most observers the Cynics' worldview. He strove to destroy social conventions (including family life) as a way of returning to a “natural” life.

Where does cynic come from?

The term cynic derives from Ancient Greek κυνικός (kynikos) 'dog-like', and κύων (kyôn) 'dog' (genitive: kynos). One explanation offered in ancient times for why the Cynics were called "dogs" was because the first Cynic, Antisthenes, taught in the Cynosarges gymnasium at Athens.

Marcus Vance
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Marcus Vance

Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.