Cynicism

I was having a conversation the other day and I mentioned to the other guy that I was beginning to succumb to one of the pathologies of journalism: "cynicism". This came up as I explained to him the facts that I came across in my articles about solid waste---specifically with regard to the Keurig coffee pod. Basically, I was referring to the "disinformation campaigns" that were waged to convince the public that these pods were either recyclable or compostable. Indeed, as I pointed out in the series, solid waste policy is absolutely rife with business people---and their willing minions---sabotaging the public good simply to make money. Thinking back about this the next day, it occurred to me that it would useful for my readers to take a look at that word: "cynic". It's not used today the way it was originally. And a lot of people might be really surprised about where it comes from. And the distinction between the old and new meanings is tremendously important to human society---even today.

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If you asked the average citizen to define "cynic", they'd probably offer some variant of this definition: "a person who believes that all or at least the vast majority of people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons". But the word itself comes from ancient Greek philosophy and originally meant something superficially similar but functionally very different.

Antisthenes, bust from the Villa of Cassius at Tivoli
Photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen, c/o Wiki Commons

"Cynicism" was a school founded by a student of Socrates named Antisthenes. The word itself is based on the Greek word for dog. Dogs are generally thought of today in terms of loyalty, as in "the dog is man's best friend". But with regard to the Cynics, the reference came to refer to a complete lack of concern for the conventions of "polite society". Cynics didn't care about fancy clothes, social convention, etc.

What they did care about was virtue or "doing the right thing". This is a very important thing to remember. Modern definitions of cynicism imply that people don't give a damn about anything except their personal self interest. Ancient cynicism implied that a person didn't give a damn about social conventions or their own material comfort and instead cared only about virtue. In effect, modern cynicism is in some sense the direct opposite of ancient cynicism.

This probably comes out most obviously in only ancient cynic most people have heard about:

Diogenes, painting by John William Waterhouse
Image c/o Wiki Commons

Diogenes. He was a student of Antisthenes who was extreme in his rejection of physical comfort and social convention---to the point where he became a street person who often slept in an abandoned, large tub. He was also famous for travelling the streets during the day with a lit lantern: vainly looking for an "honest man". There is a story that Alexander the Great once met him while he was sun bathing on the street and offered to grant him a favour. Diogenes only asked that Alexander move so he would stop blocking the light. Supposedly the conqueror opined that if he couldn't be Alexander "he'd rather be Diogenes". At that point Diogenes replied "if I wasn't Diogenes, I'd still want to be Diogenes".

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Cynic philosophers were remarkable in that they actively set out to educate ordinary citizens. To that end, they not only lived on the streets, they preached. All over the Roman Empire it was possible to meet a Cynic philosopher in a marketplace. He would be recognizable from the way he looked:  he had a beard, because all, and only, philosophers wore beards. (On Roman coins only the Emperor Marcus Aurelius has a beard. That's because he was also a philosopher, who wrote the Meditations.) He would also be wearing a cloak that doubled as blanket, was probably barefoot, have a leather bag that held all his possessions, and, a staff to lean on. And he would be preaching.

And what's really fascinating from a historical point of view is how much Cynic philosophy seems to have ended up in the Christian Gospels. For example, compare these quotations.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27/Matthew 10:38)
If you want to be crucified, just wait. The cross will come. If it seems reasonable to comply, and the circumstances are right, then it's to be carried through, and your integrity maintained. (Epictetus) 

Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20/Matthew 5:3)
Only the person who has despised wealth is worthy of God. (Seneca EM XVIII 13) 

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those that curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other as well... Love your enemies, and do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. (Luke 6:27-29/Matthew 5:39-44)
A rather nice part of being a Cynic comes when you have to be beaten like an ass, and throughout the beating you have to love those who are beating you as though you were father or brother to them. (Epictetus III xxii 54)

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. (Matthew 10:28/Luke 12:5
What tyrant or thief or court can frighten anyone who does not care about his body or his possessions? (Epictetus) 

I could go on and on with the quotes, but it seems pretty obvious to me that the people who wrote the "life and times of Jesus Christ" had met and listened to a lot of these Cynic street preachers.

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Pollyanna statue in front of the
public library in Littleton, New Hampshire.
Photo by Daveynin, c/o Wiki Commons

Some readers are probably thinking "well this is all quite interesting, but how is this important to me?" I want to point out a couple very subtle issues when we talk about cynicism. There's a very useful type of cynicism which stands in contrast to being "Pollyanna", or, the tendency to see good in every person and situation that one encounters. (The word comes from a character in an extremely popular series of children's books written in the early 20th Century.) It might seem to be a good quality to always see the best in people, but if you really do live your life that way you become oblivious to a lot of malfeasance and shenanigans. You take companies at their word when they tell you nonsense about their products---and the world suffers for it.

An ancient cynic would understand that this happens, but he wouldn't stop looking for honesty. He'd keep making a fuss, even if it resulted in him being sued into poverty, being beaten by thugs, or, thrown in jail. That's because he defines the value of life in doing the right thing.

I'm afraid that in contrast a lot of modern cynics use their disgust with what they know of the world around them to justify ceasing to even bother looking for the good. It's as if Diogenes decided that there were no honest men to be found, so he blew out the light in his lantern and put it away. I noticed this a lot during my futile attempts to run for public office. I'd meet people who who'd complain bitterly about how awful politics was and how the candidates were "all the same". I'd suggest that if they really felt that way, they should at least vote for a candidate who was honest---even if they had no chance of getting elected. But invariably these people wouldn't even do that and instead couldn't be bothered to put in even the minimal effort involved in voting. This is a very far cry from the ancient ideal of "If you want to be crucified, just wait. The cross will come". Modern cynicism is an excuse to refuse to engage with the world around you---the ancient form was a call to only engage with the very best parts of being human. 

I can understand people who take on this modern cynic persona. When you catch someone lying to you in order to manipulate you into doing something bad, it can seem like a kick in the guts. But the answer isn't to "play it cool by letting the world grow a little colder", but rather to be more discriminating in where you place your allegiance.

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