Contents
Diogenes
Challenging wealth, status and social convention through a radically simple life.
Self-sufficiency · Living according to nature
- Born
- Unknown
- Birthplace
- Sinope, present-day Turkey
- Died
- Unknown
More people
Diogenes
Ancient Greek philosopher associated with Cynicism, traditionally dated around 412–323 BCE. His example survives mainly through later anecdotes about simplicity and social convention.
Early life
Black Sea origins
Came from Sinope, a Greek city on the Black Sea coast.
An uncertain departure
Ancient accounts connect his exile with a coinage scandal, but the details are disputed.
Career
- Fourth century BCE
Leaving Sinope
Departed his home city and became associated with philosophical life in Athens.
- Fourth century BCE
Teaching by example
Used public argument and deliberate simplicity to challenge social conventions.
- Later life
Corinthian tradition
Later accounts place him in Corinth, where stories about his encounters and teaching developed.
Ideas & influence
Self-sufficiency
Argued that needing less could provide greater freedom.
Living according to nature
Challenged conventions that he regarded as artificial or corrupting.
Citizen of the world
A saying attributed to him rejects the city-state as the sole basis of identity.
Beyond philosophy
Anecdote and history
Stories of his lamp, ceramic jar and meeting with Alexander are famous, but cannot all be treated as established biography.
No surviving books
His influence comes through later accounts and the Cynic tradition rather than intact writings of his own.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and references ↗Institutional biography and career ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
