Diogenes of Sinope

📷 Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0 — Diogenes-statue-Sinop — 2010

399 av. J.-C. — 322 av. J.-C.

Sinope

PhilosophyPhilosopheBefore ChristClassical ancient Greece, 4th century BC

Greek philosopher of the 4th century BC and founder of the Cynic school. He advocated the rejection of social conventions and lived in voluntary poverty, sleeping in a large jar. He is famous for his verbal sparring with Alexander the Great.

Famous Quotes

« Stand out of my light. »

« I am looking for a man. »

« The hand is the best cup. »

Key Facts

Born around 413 BC in Sinope, on the shores of the Black Sea
Exiled from Sinope for debasing coins with his father, he settled in Athens
A student of Antisthenes, the founder of Cynicism, he radicalized his teacher's doctrine
Legendary encounter with Alexander the Great, who offered him any wish he desired — Diogenes replied: 'Stand out of my light'
Died around 323 BC, the same year as Alexander the Great, in Corinth

Works & Achievements

Philosophical Dialogues (lost) (4th century BC)

Diogenes Laërtius attributes to Diogenes of Sinope a series of dialogues and tragedies, none of which have survived in their original form. Their very existence is disputed by some historians.

Founding of the Athenian Cynic School (Around 360–350 BC)

A disciple of Antisthenes, Diogenes radicalized and embodied Cynic philosophy, turning it into a concrete way of life. His influence was felt directly on Crates of Thebes, who in turn passed Cynicism on to Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism.

The Republic (Cynic politeia, lost) (4th century BC)

A theoretical work in which Diogenes reportedly outlined his vision of an ideal city without laws, borders, or currency. It is considered the first cosmopolitan text of antiquity.

Apophthegms and Chriae (collected by Diogenes Laërtius) (Transmitted in the 3rd century AD)

A collection of short anecdotes and sharp witticisms attributed to Diogenes. These texts, preserved in the Lives of the Eminent Philosophers, form the primary source for his thought and teaching method.

Anecdotes

One day, Alexander the Great, conqueror of the known world, came to visit Diogenes, who was basking in the sun. He told him he could grant him any favor he wished. Diogenes simply replied: 'Stand out of my light.' Alexander, impressed, reportedly told his companions: 'If I were not Alexander, I would wish to be Diogenes.'

Diogenes walked through the streets of Athens in broad daylight carrying a lit lantern. When asked why, he would answer: 'I am looking for an honest man.' With this provocation, he expressed his contempt for his fellow citizens, whom he considered corrupted by social conventions and pretense.

Plato had defined man as 'a featherless biped.' Diogenes caught a rooster, plucked its feathers, and presented it to the Academy, declaring: 'Here is Plato's man!' Plato was then forced to revise his definition by adding 'with flat nails.'

Diogenes lived in a large ceramic jar (pithos) he had found in a temple. According to Theophrastus, when a mouse ran over him one night, he reflected and realized he could simplify his life even further. He threw away his bowl after watching a child drink water from cupped hands.

At a banquet, the guests threw bones at him as they would to a dog, to mock him. Diogenes approached them and urinated on them, in the manner of a dog. He actually embraced the nickname 'dog' (kyon), from which the word 'cynic' derives, claiming that he barked at the wicked and fawned upon the good.

Primary Sources

Lives of the Eminent Philosophers — Diogenes Laërtius (3rd century AD)

He used to say that the goal of life was to act in accordance with nature, not with laws; he lived the same life as Heracles, preferring nothing to freedom.

Letters of Diogenes (Pseudo-Diogenes) (1st–2nd century AD)

I live as the gods live: I need nothing, and everything men think they need is merely superfluity added on top of nature.

Discourses (Diatribes) — Dio Chrysostom, Discourse VI (Late 1st century AD)

Diogenes mocked those who prided themselves on noble birth, wealth, or power, saying that all such things were empty vanity compared to virtue.

Table Talk — Plutarch (Early 2nd century AD)

When Alexander approached him and said, 'I am Alexander, the great king,' Diogenes replied, 'And I am Diogenes, the Dog.'

Key Places

Sinope (modern-day Sinop, Turkey)

Greek city on the Black Sea where Diogenes was born around 399 BC. He was banished from it following the scandal of his father's currency counterfeiting.

Athens — Agora and Cynosarges

Diogenes settled in Athens, frequenting the agora for his verbal and philosophical sparring. The Cynosarges gymnasium, home of the Cynic school founded by Antisthenes, was his first base.

Corinth

The city where Diogenes was sold into slavery and where he spent much of his life. It was here that his famous encounter with Alexander the Great took place during the Isthmian Games.

Gates of Corinth (presumed place of death)

According to tradition, Diogenes died at the gates of Corinth around 323 BC, on the very same day as Alexander the Great — a coincidence the ancients considered deeply symbolic.