Welcome back. We’re moving onto a new topic this time, and that is ancient Cynicism. Taking their name from the Greek word for dog, the Cynics recognised that whilst human beings are really not very good at happiness, it is something that comes easily to canines. This insight leads to a radical approach to the question of happiness and the good life.
What is (ancient) Cynicism?
The first Cynic philosopher was called Diogenes. And there’s no better way of getting a sense of who he was, and what he has to tell us, than by watching the following video, written by scholar William Desmond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utzym1I_BiY
The Art of Happiness
For the Cynics, happiness comes from living in accord with nature. This means that we need to return to a kind of self-sufficiency and a freedom from convention. The things that we human beings obsess about — wealth, fame, status and so forth — are not necessary to our happiness (here the Cynics are close to the Epicureans). Not only this ,but their pursuit leads us away from living in accord with nature. Some food to eat, a little shelter, the relief of bodily urges: the things that we need for happiness are relatively few. Cynicism as a way of living was demanding and far from easy. Cynic virtue was living simply, with a rough cloak to cover you, a small bag to carry a little food, and a stick to help you walk from place to place.
Although the cynics were called ‘dogs’ as an insult, it was an insult they embraced. Because dogs, after all, seem to have quite admirable qualities. They don’t worry about their mortgage payments, or their pension plans, or their grades in their mid-terms. They don’t need smartphones, or university degrees, to live a good life. And this means that they can live a good life pretty much anywhere.
Learning from the Nonhuman/Animal World
Do you have a cat? A dog? Think about the non-humans that you know, and what you can learn from them about the arts of happiness. Is there any sense in which ‘living like a dog’ (or a cat, or whatever other animal you might think of) might conduce to greater happiness? Write for 7 minutes.
The Art of Living in Accord With Nature
We talked about desires when we explored Epicurus, and the way some desires are natural and easily fulfilled, and some unnatural. So what does it mean to live naturally? And should we try to do so (remember that for Xunzi, goodness is not natural, but artificial: the very worst thing that we can do is live in accord with nature).
Let’s try thinking about this non-verbally. After all, one thing that makes us distinct from other animals is that we have very complex language, so maybe thinking non-linguistically will help us reimagine this.
What does it mean to live a natural life? Draw an image of what you imagine.
Discussion
In groups, let’s discuss the following:
- Is there anything we can learn from the nonhuman/animal world about human needs and human happiness?
- What is natural in human life, and what is unnatural?
- Should we seek to live more in accord with nature? Why? Or why not?
- What practices might help us live more in accord with nature?
We’ll discuss these after the breakout rooms.
Homework
For your homework, read the introduction to How to Say ‘No’, and then the texts about Cynicism by Diogenes Laertius.