Diogenes of Sinope

Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme depicting philosopher Diogenes lighting a lantern while being observed by four sitting dogs
Image: Jean-Léon Gérôme, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
2018-04

This is a pretty long article, makes me feel like I should know more of this philosopher.

Diogenes of Sinope

Diogenes had nothing but disdain for Plato and his abstract philosophy. Diogenes viewed Antisthenes as the true heir to Socrates, and shared his love of virtue and indifference to wealth, together with a disdain for general opinion. Diogenes shared Socrates’s belief that he could function as doctor to men’s souls and improve them morally, while at the same time holding contempt for their obtuseness. Plato once described Diogenes as “a Socrates gone mad.”

Painting of Diogenes by John William Waterhouse showing three women gathered on a staircase near Diogenes who is resting inside a large jar
Diogenes, by John William Waterhouse
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