The Cynics never had any canon or body of authoritative writings similar to those of the Stoics or Epicureans, but they had a set of characteristic ideas which can be traced by means of certain words to which they sometimes gave new or special meanings and which developed into a Cynic cant. The word "virtue" (ἀρετή) was much used by the later Cynics. Lucian says; "As soon as I came to Elis in going up by way of the gymnasium I overheard a Cynic bawling out the usual street corner invocation to Virtue in a loud harsh voice and abusing everyone without exception" (Peregrinus 3). But it is not easy to determine what significance this word could have had to a Cynic. It could not have included any of the civic or domestic virtues, for the Cynics were anarchists who repudiated obligations to both family and state and opposed marriage.
It could not have included honesty, for ancient tradition did not connect Diogenes with honesty. "He (Diogenes) saw no impropriety in stealing anything from a temple" (D. L. 6, 73; cf. D. L. 6, 20-21). The doctrine that "all things belong to the wise" (D. L. 6, 11, 37 & 72; 10th Letter of Diogenes; 26th & 27th Letters of Crates) was not conducive to respect for property rights. Lucian calls the Cynics "cats for thievery" (The Fisher). Julian compares them with pirates and bandits and says of a Cynic teacher (Oenomaus); "This then is his aim, to do away with all reverence for the gods, to bring dishonor on all human wisdom, to trample on all law that can be identified with honor and justice, and more than this, to trample on those laws which have been as it were engraved on our souls by the gods. ... Robbers take cover in desert places, whereas the Cynics go up and down in our midst subverting the institutions of society, and that not by introducing a better and purer state of things but a worse and more corrupt state" (7, 209-210). Cicero says, "As to the whole system of the Cynics, we are absolutely to reject it, because it is inconsistent with moral susceptibility, without which nothing can be honest, nothing can be virtuous" (De Officiis 1, 14).
Image: Bust of Cicero in the Capitoline Museums, Rome
Photo by José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro
via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
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My friend , My friend, this is why "Socrates" demanded in his authoritative schooling...."exactness of a term'...you see or better yet we can say now...."Precision of the verb as our moral foundation".......in this day and age....The only way to a resolution of a problem is to abstain from a opinion.....and Here is a original WhiteFlame 99 quote for you Ole Friend........"I don't deal in soft opinions , I Deliver hard truth's" in fact i shall post as a quote for all.
Beautiful informative inner looking post Indeed my Friend
Thank You Kindly
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