Natureza e Modo de Vida no Cinismo Antigo

Abstract

Ancient Cynicism was a critical-philosophical movement originating from the life of Diogenes of Sinope (approximately 424 BC). In this work, we seek the main foundations that nourished not only the cynical way of life but also its teachings and exhortations dedicated to the population. For this, we carried out a reading and interpretation of some selected doxographies, having as main the sixth book of the work Lives of Eminent Philosophers, by Diógenes Laertius (180 AD). In addition to the primary doxographies belonging to the Roman period, we serve as rich resources such as works by renowned commentators on cynicism, such as William Desmond, Ferrand Sayre, Luis E. Navia, among others. Therefore, we accomplished to distinguish a very high theme for cynicism: nature and its pedagogical function in the face of the males of social conventions. In this journey over nature, we saw that nature has become a fundamental symbol of freedom for philosophers dedicated to cynicism, for these, above all, emphasized against social imprisonments, the free and independent way of being, autarchic, based on the essentials to human life. The “live according to nature” became a path to freedom, built from the cultivation of some virtues through spiritual excercices, such as physical and mental preparation to develop in us an adequate condition that allows us to endure life adversities. The simplicity seen in many examples of nature, more specifically of animals, becomes another fundamental theme. Thus, we realized during the stages of this work that Diogenes of Sinope intended to build a philosophy of despoliation that, despite its radicality, accessible and effective in its principles to guide his countrymen towards liberation from unbridled passions and false desires; a philosophy of immanence, of everyday life, of simple life immersed in the present