Diogenes the Cynic

Intro One of the founders of the cynic philosophy, Diogenes believed that people should live simple lives that reject all natural desires for wealth, power, or fame. Instead, he encouraged people to live a life of intentional hardship and not be bound by social conventions. And boy oh boy did Diogenes practice what he preached. And there are more than a few reasons for Plato thinking he was “A Socrates gone mad". Diogenes didn’t have a house, instead, he lived in a huge wine cask lying on its side. He had no possessions apart from a cup he used for eating and drinking, but he threw this away in disgust when he saw a boy drinking water from his hands and realized he didn’t even need a cup to sustain himself. Given this disdain for manners, Diogenes was known for his brutal honesty in conversation. He had no regard for social etiquette whatsoever. These social norms, he believed, were completely artificial and had no real use in making someone a good person.