Christian Cyclopedia

Philosophy of the Cynics, probably so called from Cynosarges, the place in Athens where Antisthenes (ca. 444–370 BC), founder of the school, taught, though the name was soon assoc. with the unconventional, “doglike” (Gk. kynikos), shameless, and aggressive habits of the adherents of the § Diogenes (ca. 412–323 BC), called “the Dog,” was the best-known representative of the Cynics. They hold that virtue is the supreme good and requires limiting desires and appetites to essentials of life; the wise man is sufficient unto himself. Pride in asceticism and a contempt for all the amenities and. sometimes, even for the decencies of life were marked characteristics of some Cynics. See also Cyrenaics; Socrates.