anti cynicism definition

It makes you less healthy, less happy, less successful, and less respected by others. One famous (and perhaps apocryphal) story summarizes the power of this latter way of living. With a few notable exceptions, the philosophers of antiquity can be found at some time or another in the company of rulers (Plato, Aeschines, and Aristippus all attended the court of Dionysius, Xenophon is intimately associated with Cyrus, Aristotle with the Macedonian ruling family, and so on). Who wants flowers when youre dead? [55] Crates' later fame (apart from his unconventional lifestyle) lies in the fact that he became the teacher of Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism. He is also a talented musician, and the show often humanizes him by showing him alone at the piano. The triumph of the Cynic as a philosophical and literary character complicates discussions of the historical individuals, a complication further troubled by a lack of sources. Philosophers who believe in cynicism are Cynics. Nature replaces convention as the standard for judgment. The Cynics had no set space where they met and discoursed, such as the Garden, the Lyceum, or the Academy; for Diogenes and Crates, the streets of Athens provide the setting for both their teaching and their training. Cynicism: Definitions and Examples | Literary Terms WebAdd to word list. Cynical people (also called cynics) believe that human beings are basically motivated by greed and self-interest; they are distrustful of others, usually very negative, and suspicious of sentimentality. the belief that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere: He's often been accused of cynicism in his attitude towards politics. After deserting from the Confederate army, he returns home to reflect and recover, and in one powerful scene he expresses his cynical yet life-affirming philosophy to his wife. We can most definitely conclude, however, that modern cynicism is detrimental. also : a cynical comment or act. The lesson of this exchange is clear: whereas Plato views paying court as freeing one from poverty, the Cynic sees poverty as freeing one from having to pay court to a ruler. [4] 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. Refuse to accept your craving for the high opinions of others. As such, the term may have begun as an insult referring to Diogenes style of life, especially his proclivity to perform all of his activities in public. those cynical men who say that democracy cannot be honest and efficient. The restrictions on citizenship made it a privilege and these exclusions are, to the Cynic, absurd. John Spacey, October 26, 2021. The major figures within Cynicism form the pivotal points within a lineage traced from Antisthenes, Socrates companion and a major interlocutor in the Socratic dialogues of Xenophon (see especially his Memorabilia and Symposium), through his student, Diogenes of Sinope, to Diogenes pupil Crates, and from Crates to both Hipparchia of Maronea, the first known woman Cynic philosopher, and Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism. 'pa pdd chac-sb tc-bd bw hbr-20 hbss lpt-25' : 'hdn'">, Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes, Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! "[23] This modern definition of cynicism is in marked contrast to the ancient philosophy, which emphasized "virtue and moral freedom in liberation from desire. Menippean Satire has a clear debt, and Diogenes of Sinope in particular appears as a character in literary and philosophical contexts; Dante, for example, situates Diogenes with other virtuous but pagan philosophers in the first level of hell and Nietzsche is especially fond of both Diogenes and the Cynic attitude. Cynicism The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. Read: American cynicism has reached a breaking point. One striking example occurs in section 125 of The Gay Science. cynical disposition, character, or belief. [75] The epistles contain the wisdom and (often polemical) ethics preached by Cynics along with their sense of purity and ascetic practices. Antisocial personality disorder, sometimes called sociopathy, is a mental health condition in which a person consistently shows no regard for right and wrong and ignores the rights and feelings of others. But cynics are also complex, which is crucial for compelling characters. [46] There are many anecdotes about his extreme asceticism (sleeping in a tub),[47] his shameless behaviour (eating raw meat),[48] and his criticism of conventional society ("bad people obey their lusts as servants obey their masters"),[49] and although it is impossible to tell which of these stories are true, they do illustrate the broad character of the man, including an ethical seriousness. It can manifest itself as a result of frustration, disillusionment, and distrust perceived as owing to organizations, authorities, and other aspects of society. Add cynicism to one of your lists below, or create a new one. In one 2017 study on middle-aged Finnish men, high cynicism also predicted premature mortality. 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? p. 140. Sentiments about other institutions in society follow similar patterns. Cynics could be found begging and preaching throughout the cities of the empire, and similar ascetic and rhetorical ideas appeared in early Christianity. For the classical philosophy, see, The examples and perspective in this section, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Cynical? "[19], The ideal Cynic would evangelise; as the watchdog of humanity, they thought it was their duty to hound people about the error of their ways. It is through their practices, the selves and lives that they cultivated, that we come to know the particular Cynic thos. [30][31] The staff itself became a message of how the Cynic was free through its possible interpretation as an item of leisure, but, just as equivalent, was its message of strengtha virtue held in abundance by the Cynic philosopher. Cynics reject sentimentality and superficial expressions of niceness, but they usually have a moral compass and are capable of real emotion (see section 4). Instead, they were to lead a simple life free from all possessions. One day, a philosopher named Aristippus, who was much favored by the royalty, found Diogenes in the task of washing vegetables, a low and disdained food for the ancient Greeks. [9] It claimed to offer people the possibility of happiness and freedom from suffering in an age of uncertainty. WebMay 20, 2022 A cynic is someone who believes that humans are selfish and that they only do something if it will benefit themselves. Instead of training the body for the sake of victory in the Olympic Games, on the battlefield, or for general good health, the Cynic trains the body for the sake of the soul. University of Arkansas at Little Rock [61] Cynics could be found throughout the empire, standing on street corners, preaching about virtue. Nglish: Translation of cynical for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of cynical for Arabic Speakers. The most cynical saw no significant income increase at all. In the 2nd century CE, Lucian, whilst pouring scorn on the Cynic philosopher Peregrinus Proteus,[66] nevertheless praised his own Cynic teacher, Demonax, in a dialogue. Nothing could change her cynicism about politics. The teenager seems to be a sweet boy at heart he cares deeply about children and clearly wants to form bonds with others but hes suspicious of people and quick to label them as phonies. He also hates sentimentality and ceremony, as shown in this quote about leaving flowers on gravestones. This has important ethical connections to the notion of living in accord with nature, and can likewise be seen as an important precursor to the Stoic understanding of physis, or nature, as identical to the kosmos, or universe. (Note: if the person actually did steal someone elses shoes and run off with them, it would start too look more like nihilism than cynicism see section 6.). Fundamental to this is a redefinition of what is worthy of shame. As reasoning creatures, people can gain happiness by rigorous training and by living in a way which is natural for themselves, rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, and fame, and even flouting conventions openly and derisively in publi If this sounds like Christianity or even Buddhism, it should: Greek philosophers, including skeptics, who were contemporaries of the cynics, were probably influenced by Indian traditions when they visited the subcontinent with Alexander the Great, and in the following centuries, the ideas of cynicism and its offshoot stoicism heavily influenced early Christian thought. The rise of Imperial Rome, like the Greek loss of independence under Philip and Alexander three centuries earlier, may have led to a sense of powerlessness and frustration among many people, which allowed a philosophy which emphasized self-sufficiency and inner-happiness to flourish once again. 2023. "[10], Research has also shown that cynicism is related to feelings of disrespect. Relying on the worldespecially on getting approval from the worldmakes equanimity and true freedom impossible. The Cynics, then, cast the notion of citizenship in a new light. Cynics are followers of ancient Greek philosophy who believe that life is not about achieving virtue, but about living in harmony with nature. (Most of the time.). Webcynicism. Social conventions, however, can hinder the good life by compromising freedom and setting up a code of conduct that is opposed to nature and reason. The ancient cynics knew that lasting satisfaction cannot be derived from a constant struggle for possessions, pleasures, power, or prestige. Nglish: Translation of cynicism for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of cynicism for Arabic Speakers. But theres also a more existential choice on the table: a choice between optimism and, Somebody Somewhere carries forward the legacy of small but mighty predecessors like Schitts Creek while staying firmly rooted in the real, and is as sure a bet as there is amid a streaming landscape saturated with, Theres no denying Charlie Kaufmans influence on Asters worldview, crossed with the navel-spelunking, Pomona College political scientist Sara Sadhwani said Proposition 30 creates a dilemma for many California voters, pitting support for transitioning to a clean energy economy against, Focus on vivid descriptions of Jacks squalid apartment and his moral conflict and, The length of Hanks tenure can be measured by the depth of his, Post the Definition of cynicism to Facebook, Share the Definition of cynicism on Twitter, Palter, Dissemble, and Other Words for Lying, Skunk, Bayou, and Other Words with Native American Origins, Words For Things You Didn't Know Have Names, Vol. This captures the crux of the Cynic notion of living in accord with nature and contrary to convention. Consequently, their freedom is hindered by convention. These items became so symbolic of the Cynic vocation that ancient writers accosted those who thought that donning the Cynic garb would make them suited to the philosophy. Diogenes Laertius writes that, Plato saw [Diogenes of Sinope] washing lettuces, came up to him and quietly said to him, Had you paid court to Dionysius, you wouldnt now be washing lettuces, and [Diogenes] with equal calmness answered, If you had washed lettuces, you wouldnt have paid court to Dionysius (Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Book 6, Chapter 58). : contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives. People widely believe that cynicism is a sign of intelligence and cognitive ability, but this belief is usually wrong. The first Cynics, beginning most clearly with Diogenes of Sinope, embraced their title: they barked at those who displeased them, spurned Athenian etiquette, and lived from nature. General national affiliation was likewise esteemed, and Diogenes cosmopolitan response is therefore also a rejection of the limitations of such a view. [29] Thus, the very act of carrying a staff was slightly taboo itself. The Cynics are not always given credit when it comes to the notion of cosmopolitanism, for the origin of this term is at times ascribed to Stoicism. WebCynicism (pronounced SIN-niss-ism) is a dark attitude toward the world, especially toward human beings. )[41] Later tradition claimed that Diogenes became the disciple of Antisthenes,[42] but it is by no means certain that they ever met. They practiced shameless nonconform Epictetus in particular advocates the Cynic stance, but warns against taking up lightly something so difficult (see Discourses 3.22). Part of the reason is that theyre realistic, of course: the real world is full of all sorts of cynics, so cynical characters are very believable. House is another classic example of a cynic. 2. "[11], In a 1996 paper, J. N. Cappella and K. H. Jamieson claimed that "healthy skepticism may have given way to corrosive cynicism". Accessed 28 Jun. Cynical. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cynical. "[78] For Crossan, Jesus was more like a Cynic sage from a Hellenistic Jewish tradition than either a Christ who would die as a substitute for sinners or a messiah who wanted to establish an independent Jewish state of Israel. A person wearing this shirt is clearly suspicious of the world, and not particularly interested in making friends with everyone. Whatever it is, Im against it, Marx sang in his 1932 film, Horse Feathers. Doyne Dawson, (1992), Diogenes Lartius, i. Modern cynicism [has] come to describe something antithetical to its previous meanings, a psychological state hardened against both moral reflection and intellectual persuasion, the University of Houstons David Mazella wrote in The Making of Modern Cynicism. They may not seem like a sumptuous feast to the people around you, but youll find that they nourish you far more than the empty calories of social conformity. pungent cynicisms. Indeed, political associations at times require one to be vicious for the sake of the polis. The second reason is that the dog is a shameless animal, and they make a cult of shamelessness, not as being beneath modesty, but as superior to it. 76 Synonyms & Antonyms of CYNICISM - Merriam The Cynic way of life required continuous training, not just in exercising judgments and mental impressions, but a physical training as well: [Diogenes] used to say, that there were two kinds of exercise: that, namely, of the mind and that of the body; and that the latter of these created in the mind such quick and agile impressions at the time of its performance, as very much facilitated the practice of virtue; but that one was imperfect without the other, since the health and vigour necessary for the practice of what is good, depend equally on both mind and body. Diogenes Lartius, vi. Diogenes of Sinope fervently rejects nomos, or convention, by showing the arbitrary and frequently amusing nature of Athenian social, religious, and political mores and trampling the authority of religious and political leaders. CYNICISM | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary Happiness can come only from detaching ourselves from the worlds false promises. Modern cynicism [has] come to describe something antithetical to its previous meanings, a psychological state hardened against both moral reflection and The story of Cynicism traditionally begins with Antisthenes (c. 445365 BC),[32][33] who was an older contemporary of Plato and a pupil of Socrates. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, British and American pronunciations with audio. He became so taken with the figure of Socrates that he asked the bookseller where he might find such a man. [25] Perhaps of importance were tales of Indian philosophers, known as gymnosophists, who had adopted a strict asceticism. This required, then, a life of constant training, or asksis. Cynics are usually masters of dark comedy. It was based on a refusal to accept the assumptions and habits that discourage people from questioning conventional dogmas, and thus hold us back from the search for deep wisdom and happiness. Dictionary Thesaurus b. : based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest. Foremost for understanding the Cynic conception of ethics is that virtue is a life lived in accord with nature. [15], In organizations, cynicism manifests itself as a general or specific attitude, characterized by frustration, hopelessness, disillusionment and distrust in regard to economic or governmental organizations, managers or other aspects of work.[16]. The ontological component is concerned with the contents of reality, asserting that reality has no place for supernatural or other spooky kinds of entity. [21], The ancient Cynics rejected conventional social values, and would criticise the types of behaviours, such as greed, which they viewed as causing suffering. Cynicis is an attitude characterized by a general distrust of the motives of others. Adding insult to injury, people tend not to respect cynics. A cynic may have a general lack of faith or hope in people motivated by ambition, desire, greed, gratification, materialism, goals, and opinions that a cynic perceives as vain, unobtainable, or ultimately meaningless. In classical philosophy, cynicism has a completely different meaning, almost the opposite of what it means today! In other words, that smirking 25-year-old is at elevated risk of turning into a depressed 44-year-old. Modern cynicism traps you in an unhappy cycle. Often these come in the form of dark comedy from a cynical character who sees all the tragic events unfold but isnt too emotionally affected by them. Julie Piering [2] Diogenes took Cynicism to its logical extremes, and came to be seen as the archetypal Cynic philosopher. This can be a permanent worldview or an attitude that an individual adopts for a period of time. pessimistic implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life. [10] The Cynics are said to have invented the idea of cosmopolitanism: when he was asked where he came from, Diogenes replied that he was "a citizen of the world, (kosmopolits). How to Build a Life is a weekly column by Arthur Brooks, tackling questions of meaning and happiness. Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. [86], During the 2nd century, Crescens the Cynic clashed with Justin Martyr, recorded as claiming the Christians were atheotatous (the most without a god), in reference to their rejection of the pagan gods and their absence of temples, statues, or sacrifices. Nevertheless, it accurately tracks a kind of intellectual transmission that begins with Antisthenes and is passed on to Diogenes, Crates, and Zeno. For the Cynics, the purpose of life is to live in virtue, in agreement with nature. A sardonic tone is hostile and grim, often with a mocking sort of humor. By contrast, the methodological component is concerned with ways of investigating reality, and claims some kind of general authority for the scientific method. JAMIL ZAKI: Yeah, theres lots of correlational evidence about the role of cynicism and anti-cynicism in workplaces, so theres tons of data at this point, decades of The first and most direct Cynic influence is upon the founding of Stoicism. For the Cynics, the purpose of life is to live in virtue, in agreement with nature. It was found that straight dry, "issues-based" news did not cause political cynicism, but that "Strategic News" and "game news" did. Cynicism (contemporary) - Wikipedia cism si-n-si-zm. While there is no single, universally accepted definition of burnout, experts generally agree that it is a workplace syndrome characterized by three core attributes: 1) He was followed by Diogenes, who lived in a ceramic jar on the streets of Athens. "[65] Cynicism in Rome was both the butt of the satirist and the ideal of the thinker. [53] Crates married Hipparchia of Maroneia after she had fallen in love with him and together they lived like beggars on the streets of Athens,[54] where Crates was treated with respect. [71] The emperor Julian (ruled 361363), like Epictetus, praised the ideal Cynic and complained about the actual practitioners of Cynicism. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! "[85] The ascetic orders of Christianity (such as the Desert Fathers) also had direct connection with the Cynics, as can be seen in the wandering mendicant monks of the early church, who in outward appearance and in many of their practices differed little from the Cynics of an earlier age. By the 19th century, emphasis on the ascetic ideals and the critique of current civilization based on how it might fall short of an ideal civilization or negativistic aspects of Cynic philosophy led the modern understanding of cynicism to mean a disposition of disbelief in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions. [50], Crates of Thebes (c. 365c. He constantly makes biting remarks about others, and rarely has anything nice to say about anyone. The authors explain this pattern by noting that cynics are more likely to forgo valuable opportunities for cooperation and consequently less likely to reap the benefits of joint efforts and mutual help. In other words, being a misanthrope is costly. noun. All you can choose to do is go on or not. tags: anti-intellectualism, cynicism, politics, war. This was a popular criticism of the Christians and it continued on into the 4th century.[87]. ( initial capital letter) any of the Sign up to get an email every time a new column comes out. British English pronunciation Word Frequency cynical in American English (snkl ) adjective 1. believing that people are motivated in all their actions only by selfishness; denying the sincerity of people's motives and actions, or the value of living 2. sarcastic, sneering, etc. Legendary examples of the Cynics fearlessly free speech occur in Diogenes of Sinopes interchanges with Alexander the Great. 'Ubiquitous', 'Pretentious', and 8 More How an ancient philosophical movement devoted to the pursuit of virtue came to describe eye-rolling criticism. Goulet-Caz, Marie-Odile and Richard Goulet, eds. To save this word, you'll need to log in. This can be as obvious as thinking, I am better than someone else because I was born in this country, or as subtle as feeling slightly superior to a colleague because of my academic affiliation. Bunch of jackasses, standing in a circle. (Rocket Raccoon, Guardians of the Galaxy). originates in the philosophical schools of ancient Greece that claim a Socratic lineage. However, a transition to spears and then to staffs occurred until wearing any weapon in the city became a foolish old custom. Emphasis on this aspect of their teachings led, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries,[22] 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. People sometimes confuse cynicism with nihilism, but in fact theyre quite different. cynical beliefs; beliefs that people are generally selfish and dishonest, Palter, Dissemble, and Other Words for Lying, Skunk, Bayou, and Other Words with Native American Origins, Words For Things You Didn't Know Have Names, Vol.

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