DIOGENES
DIOGENES BIOGRAPHY
ca.
400 B.C. - 325 B.C.
DIOGENES was an
UNCONVENTIONAL and CONTROVERSIAL
Greek PHILOSOPHER, one of the founders of CYNICISM and was famous for
carrying a lantern in the daylight in search of "AN HONEST MAN"!
Diogenes
was born in Sinope (modern day Turkey) in 400 B.C. and lived in
Athens, Greece. Diogenes was a pupil of
Antisthenes, who was a
devoted student of
Socrates
(Genius Greek philosopher/teacher. Socrates would LISTEN, ASK
QUESTIONS, CRITICIZE and CHALLENGE ANSWERS).
Antisthenes believed that
happiness was only obtained by COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE, throwing
away pleasures and living with nothing and in extreme poverty.
Diogenes did away with traditional comforts and decided to
live in a tub and beg
for a living. He threw away his utensils and ate and drank with
his hands.
Diogenes became known for
being a totally UNCONVENTIONAL and CONTROVERSIAL philosopher.
Diogenes is FAMOUS for carrying a lantern in the
daylight looking for "an honest man".
He was out to show the hypocrisy of the masses and he
completely rejected social conventions. Diogenes became known as one
of the founders of CYNICISM: living a life of
honesty and virtue. His goal was
to show people how pathetic their superficial lives were and how
TOTALLY DISHONEST society was.
Alexander The Great,
the King of Macedonia, conqueror of the Persian empire and the
greatest military genius of all time, admired Diogenes and asked
him if he may do anything for him, to which Diogenes replied
"Only step out of my sunlight."
He became known as the only
person to make fun of Alexander The Great and actually LIVE!
Diogenes also laughed at Plato's
interpretations of Socrates and
was an advocate of Antisthenes' beliefs. Diogenes felt Antisthenes was the TRUE heir of Socrates.
None of Diogenes writings
have survived, but he supposedly wrote numerous books and
tragedies. Diogenes died in 325 B.C. in Corinth, Greece.
REPORTS OF DIOGENES' DEATH were as CRAZY as his
LIFE, ranging from:
-Dying from an infected dog bite
-Dying
from eating raw octopus
-EVEN HOLDING HIS BREATH TO DEATH!!
