Cynicism has two meanings: as a school of philosophy founded by Antisthenes, it rejected material comforts and social practices, while in modern times it refers to a belief that people are motivated by self-interest and society is corrupt. Extreme cynicism can lead to isolation and loss of credibility.
There are actually two different paths to take when looking for the meaning of cynicism. To the ancient Greeks, Cynicism (capitalized) was a school of philosophy and social criticism founded by a man named Antisthenes. Followers of cynicism often rejected the material comforts and social practices of the world around them, preferring to live as simply and virtuously as possible. Because these cynics often refused to bathe and were often found yelling incoherently in public areas, they were called kuon, the Greek word for dog. Thus, these men historically became known as the “Dog Philosophers.”
Perhaps the best-known follower of the Greek Cynicism movement was a man named Diogenes. Legend has it that Diogenes wandered the Greek countryside, presumably in an endless search for an honest man. Honesty and virtue were key elements of Cynicism’s original philosophy. The problem was that in the eyes of the cynics, few Greek politicians or prominent members of the ruling class had any of these qualities. Society at large was governed by thoughts of personal gain, political corruption, and meaningless rituals.
In the modern sense of the word, cynicism is a personal belief that people are motivated primarily by their own self-interests and that the natural order of things is prone to disintegration and corruption. Those who embrace cynicism often separate themselves from the rest of society, believing that society at large has largely abandoned its core value system. Politicians only act when there is personal gain and the corporate world is primarily motivated by greed and corruption. From the point of view of the cynicism, these circumstances will not improve because the people capable of making these changes are hampered by apathy and fear.
A modern cynic can consider himself a social critic, whose negative opinions serve a valid purpose. Cynicism is not without constructive aspects, as political and social leaders need to understand the negative aspects of their intentions or actions. But those who embrace the more extreme elements of cynicism run the risk of losing their credibility as “devil’s advocates.” When cynicism is paired with feelings of bitterness or resignation, a modern cynic may find himself completely isolated from the world around him, including family and friends who can no longer cope with the conspiratorial thoughts and relentless negativity associated with extreme cynicism.
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