Diogenes (/daɪˈɒdʒɪniːz/dy-OJ-in-eez; Ancient Greek: Διογένης, romanized: Diogénēs[di.oɡénɛːs]), also known as Diogenes the Cynic (Διογένης ὁ Κυνικός, Diogénēs ho Kynikós) or Diogenes of Sinope, was a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynicism. He was born in Sinope, an Ionian colony on the Black Sea coast of Anatolia, in 412 or 404 BC and died at Corinth in 323 BC.[1]
Diogenes was a controversial figure. He was banished, or he fled, from Sinope over debasement of currency. He was the son of the mintmaster of Sinope, and there is some debate as to whether it was he, his father, or both who had debased the Sinopian currency.[2] After his hasty departure from Sinope he moved to Athens where he proceeded to criticize many conventions of Athens of that day. There are many tales about him following Antisthenes and becoming his "faithful hound".[3] Diogenes was captured by pirates and sold into slavery, eventually settling in Corinth. There he passed his philosophy of Cynicism to Crates, who taught it to Zeno of Citium, who fashioned it into the school of Stoicism, one of the most enduring schools of Greek philosophy.
No authenticated writings of Diogenes survive, but there are some details of his life from anecdotes (chreia), especially from Diogenes Laërtius' book Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers and some other sources.[4] Diogenes made a virtue of poverty. He begged for a living and often slept in a large ceramic jar, or pithos, in the marketplace.[5] He used his simple lifestyle and behavior to criticize the social values and institutions of what he saw as a corrupt, confused society. He had a reputation for sleeping and eating wherever he chose in a highly non-traditional fashion and took to toughening himself against nature. He declared himself a cosmopolitan and a citizen of the world rather than claiming allegiance to just one place.
He modeled himself on the example of Heracles, believing that virtue was better revealed in action than in theory. He became notorious for his philosophical stunts, such as carrying a lamp during the day, claiming to be looking for a "man" (often rendered in English as "looking for an honest man,” as Diogenes viewed the people around him as dishonest and irrational). He criticized Plato, disputed his interpretation of Socrates, and sabotaged his lectures, sometimes distracting listeners by bringing food and eating during the discussions. Diogenes was also noted for having mocked Alexander the Great, both in public and to his face when he visited Corinth in 336 BC.[6][7][8]
^Laërtius 1925, §79
^Diogenes of Sinope Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. By Julie Piering. Downloaded 14 June 2022.
^Diogenes Laërtius, vi. 6, 18, 21; Dio Chrysostom, Orations, viii. 1–4; Aelian, x. 16; Stobaeus, Florilegium, 13.19
^IEP
^Desmond, William (2008). Cynics. University of California Press. p. 21. ISBN 9780520258358. Archived from the original on 2017-04-29. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
^Laërtius 1925, §32; Plutarch, Alexander, 14, On Exile, 15.
^Plutarch, Alexander 14
^John M. Dillon (2004). Morality and Custom in Ancient Greece. Indiana University Press. pp. 187–88. ISBN 978-0-253-34526-4.
Diogenes (/daɪˈɒdʒɪniːz/ dy-OJ-in-eez; Ancient Greek: Διογένης, romanized: Diogénēs [di.oɡénɛːs]), also known as Diogenes the Cynic (Διογένης ὁ Κυνικός...
as evidence of Diogenes' disregard for authority, wealth, and decorum. Plutarch and Diogenes Laërtius report that Alexander and Diogenes died on the same...
of Diogenes seems to have been much fuller than that which we now possess. Although Diogenes had a will to objectivity and fact-checking, Diogenes's works...
Embalming. The Diogenes Club is also the name of a British alternative pop band. In 1932 a group of naturists founded The Diogenes Sun Club. "Diogenes Sun Club"...
microwave expert Diogenes Angelakos is dead at 77". www.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2020-12-01. "University of California: In Memoriam, 1997: Diogenes J. Angelakos"...
was first recognized in 1966 and designated Diogenes syndrome by Clark et al. The name derives from Diogenes of Sinope, an ancient Greek philosopher, a...
Diogenes of Seleucia (Greek: Διογένης; fl. 2nd century BC) was an Epicurean philosopher, who has sometimes been confused with Diogenes of Babylon, who...
Diogenes of Apollonia (/daɪˈɒdʒɪniːz/ dy-OJ-in-eez; Ancient Greek: Διογένης ὁ Ἀπολλωνιάτης, romanized: Diogénēs ho Apollōniátēs; fl. 5th century BC) was...
Romanos IV Diogenes (Greek: Ῥωμανός Διογένης, romanized: Rōmanos Diogenēs; c. 1030 – c. 1072) was a Byzantine general and Akritai commander who, after...
Lacunicambarus diogenes, the devil crayfish,devil crawfish, is a species of North American burrowing crayfish found in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and parts...
believe that Diogenes only moved to Athens after the death of Antisthenes, and it has been argued that the stories linking Antisthenes to Diogenes were invented...
Diogenes of Babylon (also known as Diogenes of Seleucia; Greek: Διογένης Βαβυλώνιος; Latin: Diogenes Babylonius; c. 230 – c. 150/140 BC) was a Stoic philosopher...
Diogenes Laërtius, viii. 12; Plutarch, Non posse suav. vivi sec. Ep. p. 1094 Porphyry, in Ptol. Harm. p. 213; Diogenes Laërtius, viii. 12. Diogenes Laërtius...
The Diogenes Verlag (short: Diogenes) is a Swiss publisher in Zurich, founded in 1952 by Daniel Keel [de], with a focus on literature, plays and cartoons...
described by Carl Linnaeus as Cancer diogenes; the specific epithet honours Diogenes of Sinope. "Petrochirus diogenes". Integrated Taxonomic Information...
τῶν ὅλων ἀτόμους καὶ κενόν, τὰ δ'ἀλλα πάντα νενομίσθαι [δοξάζεσθαι]. (Diogenes Laërtius, Democritus, Vol. IX, 44) Now his principal doctrines were these...
probably at the urging of her brother Simeon ben Shetach, had Diogenes put to death. Diogenes may be the Greek name adopted by the Sadducee Elazar Ben Po’ira...
doxographer Diogenes Laërtius, in his third century AD work Lives and Opinions of the Eminent Philosophers. While it is all we have, Diogenes wrote some...
R.E. Allen. Diogenes Laërtius, i. 40 Diogenes Laërtius, i. 41 Diogenes Laërtius, i. 13 Ausonius, The Masque of the Seven Sages Diogenes Laërtius, i....
The Statue of Diogenes (Turkish: Diyojen Heykeli) is a monument to the Ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope, who was born in Sinop, ancient Asia...
Diogenes Small (1797–1812) is a fictional character created by the English crime writer Colin Dexter in his Inspector Morse series of novels. The character...
of Diogenes of Oenoanda. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-10461-6 Smith, Martin Ferguson. (1996), The philosophical inscription of Diogenes of...
Retrieved 28 January 2023. Diogenes Laërtius, iii. 1 U. von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, Plato, 46 Diogenes Laërtius, iii.1 Diogenes Laërtius, iii. 4 Stanton...
Diogenes of Athens may refer to: Diogenes of Athens (sculptor), sculptor who worked at Rome during the reign of Augustus Diogenes of Athens (tragedian)...
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