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Cynicism (Greek: Kυνισμός) originally comprised the various philosophies of a group of ancient Greeks called the Cynics, founded by Antisthenes in about the 4th century BC. The Cynics rejected all conventions, whether of religion, manners, housing, dress, or decency, advocating the pursuit of virtue in a simple and unmaterialistic lifestyle.

By the 19th century, emphasis on the negative aspects of Cynic philosophy led to a new and very different understanding of cynicism to mean an attitude of jaded negativity, and a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of other people. Modern cynicism, as a product of mass society, is a distrust toward professed ethical and social values, especially when there are high expectations concerning society, institutions and authorities which are unfulfilled. Cynicism can manifest itself as a result of frustration, disillusionment, and distrust perceived as due to organizations, authorities and other aspects of society, and thus is roughly equivalent to a substantive form of the English word "jaded".

History of cynicism

The classical Greek and Roman Cynics regarded virtue as the only necessity for happiness, and saw virtue as entirely sufficient for attaining happiness. Classical Cynics followed this philosophy to the extent of neglecting everything not furthering their perfection of virtue and attainment of happiness, thus, the title Cynics, derived from the Greek word κύων, ("dog" in English) because they allegedly neglected society, hygiene, family, money, etc, in a manner reminiscent of dogs. They sought to free themselves from conventions; become self-sufficient; and live only in accordance with nature. They rejected any conventional notions of happiness involving money, power, or fame, to lead entirely virtuous, and thus happy, lives.^[1]

The ancient Cynics rejected conventional social values, and would criticise the types of behaviours, such as greed, which they viewed as causing suffering. Emphasis on this aspect of their teachings led, in the late 18th and early 19th century,^[2] to the modern understanding of cynicism as "an attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others."^[3] This modern definition of cynicism is in marked contrast to the ancient philosophy, which emphasized "virtue and moral freedom in liberation from desire."^[4]

See also

• Agnosticism
• Human nature
• Nihilism
• Skepticism
• Misanthropy
• Pessimism
• Doubt

References

Further reading

• Desmond, William D., (2006), The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism, University of Notre Dame Press. ISBN 0268025819
• Dudley, Donald R., (1937), A History Of Cynicism - From Diogenes To The 6th Century A.D.. London : Methuen & co., ltd.
• Mazella, David, (2007), The Making of Modern Cynicism, University of Virginia Press. ISBN 0-813-92615-7
• Sloterdijk, Peter, (1988), Critique of Cynical Reason, University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 0-816-61586-1

External links

• The Cynic's Sanctuary
• Cynicism / Conspiracism from Project Worldview
• "Is it worse to be cynical or jaded?" Retrieved 2008-05-30

From Wikiquote

Cynicism is a term which originally referred to the ancient Greek philosophy of the Cynics, often considered to have been founded by Antisthenes. Currently, the word "cynicism" generally describes the opinions of those who are disinclined to rely upon sincerity, human virtue, or altruism, and maintain that self-interest is the primary motive of human behaviour.

Sourced

Alphabetized by author

• There is nothing so pitiful as a young cynic because he has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing.
  • Maya Angelou, as quoted in The Truth in Words (2005) by Neal Zero

• Cyn-ic: An idealist whose rose-colored glasses have been removed, snapped in two, and stomped into the ground, immediately improving his vision.
  • Rick Bayan at The Cynic's Sanctuary

• I’ve seen studies that say cynics keel over from heart disease at a rate four times greater than non-cynics. And I’m sure that unrelieved cynicism isn’t good for the body or the soul; it leads to pessimism, which can lead to depression, which can lead to all sorts of mental and physical miseries. It’s just that we cynics have this need to be honest with ourselves and the world. I think there are benefits to cynicism, too.
  • Rick Bayan, from,‘The Cynic's Message Board’, at, The Cynic’s Sanctuary website

• Nobody loves a cynic, except maybe another cynic.
  • Rick Bayan, Writer and Cynic. from, ‘What is Cynicism?’ at, The Cynic’s Sanctuary website.

• The cynic is one who never sees a good quality in a man and never fails to see a bad one. He is the human owl, vigilant in darkness and blind to light, mousing for vermin, and never seeing noble game. The cynic puts all human actions into two classes — openly bad and secretly bad.
  • Henry Ward Beecher, in Lectures to Young Men: On Various Important Subjects (1860) Lecture IV : Portrait Gallery

• Cynic, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.
  • Ambrose Bierce, in The Devil's Dictionary (1911)

• Cynicism is full of naive disappointments.
  • Mason Cooley (1927-2002), American aphorist. City Aphorisms (1984)

• Cynicism formulates issues clearly, but only to dismiss them.
  • Mason Cooley, City Aphorisms, Sixth Selection (1989)

• Cynicism is intellectual treason.
  • Norman Cousins, Human Options (1981)

• I was too green to know that all cynicism masks a failure to cope – an impotence, in short; and to that despise all effort is the greatest effort of all.
  • John Fowles, The Magus (1966)

• Cynicism is cheap – you can buy it at any Monoprix store – it’s built into all poor–quality goods.
  • Graham Greene (1904–1991), British novelist. The Comedians (1966), pt. 1, ch. 1, sct. 3

• A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past; he is one who is prematurely disappointed in the future.
  • Sydney J. Harris (b. 1917), American journalist. On the Contrary (1962) Ch. 7

• Cynicism is an unpleasant way of saying the truth.
  • Lillian Hellman in The Little Foxes (1939)

• Irony differentiates. Cynicism never does.
  • Paul Horgan (b. 1903), American author. Approaches to Writing (1973), No. 398

• A cynic is what an idealist calls a realist.
  • Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes, Minister by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn

• I once said cynically of a politician, "He'll double-cross that bridge when he comes to it."
  • Oscar Levant, in The Memoirs of an Amnesiac (1965), p. 13

• Cynicism is intellectual dandyism.
  • George Meredith, in The Egoist, Ch. 7

• The worst cynicism: a belief in luck.
  • Joyce Carol Oates, American author and academic, Do What You Will, pt 2, ch 15

• What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
  • Oscar Wilde, in Lady Windermere's Fan (1892); often paraphrased : "A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing."

• The cynic, a parasite of civilisation, lives by denying it, for the very reason that he is convinced that it will not fail.
  • José Ortega Y Gasset (1883–1955), Spanish essayist and philosopher. The Revolt of the Masses (1930), Ch. 11

External Links

• The Cynic’s Sanctuary

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English

Proper noun

Cynicism

1. the philosophy of the Greek Cynics