History of Cynicism: From Diogenes to the Sixth Century A.D. [Paperback]

This is a general introduction to the Hellenistic philosophy of Cynicism. To the student of ancient philosophy Cynicism may seem little more than a debased version of the ethics of Socrates, which exaggerates his austerity to a fanatic asceticism, hardens his irony to sardonic laughter at the follies of mankind, and affords no parallel to his love of knowledge. Diogenes was 'Socrates gone mad' . On the other hand, for the student of ancient social history and thought from the 4th century BC to the close of antiquity, and even beyond, the mind-set of cynicism is still a constant or ever-recurring theme.

Dudley's monograph on ancient Cynicism, although published in 1937, remains a standard work, indeed the only book-length treatment of the subject in English. There has been a considerable amount of recent work on Hellenistic philosophy and on Cynicism in particular - articles and collected essays - but nothing that replaces the overview of Dudley, whose book is described by the editors of the most recent collection as 'the best general introduction in English'.

A general introduction to the Hellenistic philosophy of Cynicism. In the BRISTOL CLASSICAL PAPERBACK series.

Donald R. Dudleywas Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and Henry Fellow at Yale University, USA.

Miriam Griffinis the Tutorial Fellow in Ancient History at Somerville College, University of Oxford, UK, and the author of books on Seneca and Nero, and co-editor ofCicero on Duties and Philosophia Togata I & II.

Introduction
I Antisthenes. No Direct Connexion With Cynics. His Ethics
II Diogenes And His Associates
III Cynicism In The Third Century B.C.
IV Cynicism And The Philosophical Schools In The Third Century
V Cynic Influence On Hellenistic Literature
VI Cynicism In The Second And First Centuries B.C.
VII Demetrius. The ' Philosophic Opposition ' The First Century A.D.
VIII Cynicism In The Second Century A.D. 143