What is Cynicism:
The word cynicism can be synonymous with shamelessness, impudence or insolence. It can also refer to a philosophical doctrine of Ancient Greece that maintained that virtue was the only possible path to happiness, which is why it rejected social conventions and embraced asceticism.
Cynicism thus has two relatively distant but associated meanings, since a certain modern perception of the cynical philosophical doctrine, which characterized cynics as people who simply despise social conventions and certain values such as fame, power or wealth, has prevailed to such an extent that it has assigned a new meaning to the word.
Thus, the cynic, practitioner of a rigorous discipline conducive to virtue, came to be understood as a individual who disbelieves in the sincerity or goodness of human actions. For example: “Don’t talk to me with that cynicism.”
Hence, then, all the negative evaluations assimilated by the word cynicism: shamelessness in lying or in the defense and practice of impudent or dishonest actions. For example: “The cynicism of today’s young people deserves the attention of their elders.”
The word cynicism, as such, comes from Latin cynismusand this in turn from the Greek κυνισμός (kynismós), derived from κύων (kyon), which means ‘dog’, in allusion to the way of life of the Cynic philosophers.
Cynicism in philosophy
Cynicism is called, in philosophy, the doctrine of the cynics, a group of philosophers who consider that Man’s only concern should be virtue, because only through this can happiness be achieved.. The cynical school was founded by Antisthenesdisciple of Socrates.
Cynics despised all social norms and conventions; They rejected fame, power or wealth, maintaining that these values, dictated by convention, did not constitute the virtuous path.
The cynic barely covered his basic needs; He neglected his hygiene and his clothing, he stripped or renounced his possessions and wealth, he lacked family and sustenance, and he dedicated himself to noticing, every now and then, the frivolity and corruption of the society in which he lived. The cynic, then, enjoyed great freedom.
For Diogenes of Sinopeimportant Cynic philosopher, the ideals of life should be self-sufficiency (autarkeia), and apathy (apatheia).
Cynicism was a doctrine that enjoyed a certain heyday, especially during the rise of the Roman Empire in the first century. And, although the doctrine as such had disappeared by the fifth century, early Christianity nevertheless adopted many of its ideas. ascetic
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