Inspired by our own Diogenesthe Cynic, I found this.....

http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/d/diogsino.htm

Diogenes was a Cynic philosopher of Sinope. His father, Icesias, a banker, was convicted of debasing the public coin, and was obliged to leave the country; or, according to another account, his father and himself were charged with this offense, and the former was thrown into prison, while the son escaped and went to Athens. Here he attached himself, as a disciple, to Antisthenes, who was at the head of the Cynics. Antisthenes at first refused to admit him into his house and even struck him with a stick. Diogenes calmly bore the rebuke and said, "Strike me, Antisthenes, but you will never find a stick sufficiently hard to remove me from your presence, while you speak anything worth hearing." The philosopher was so much pleased with this reply that he at once admitted him among his scholars. Diogenes fully adopted the principles and character of his master. Renouncing every other object of ambition, he distinguished himself by his contempt of riches and honors and by his invectives against luxury. He wore a coarse cloak, carried a wallet and a staff, made the porticoes and other public places his habitation, and depended upon casual contributions for his daily bread. He asked a friend to procure him a cell to live in; when there was a delay, he took up abode in a pithos, or large tub, in the Metroum. It is probable, however, that this was only a temporary expression of indignation and contempt, and that he did not make it the settled place of his residence. This famous "tub" is indeed celebrated by Juvenal; it is also ridiculed by Lucian and mentioned by Seneca. But no notice is taken of this by other ancient writers who have mentioned this philosopher.


***************************

Who is a Cynic?

http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/c/cynics.htm

The Cynics are one of the minor Socratic schools. The school was founded by Antisthenes (c. 445-365 BCE), a follower of Socrates. The Cynics believed that living a virtuous life, which they also identified with living according to nature, is necessary and sufficient for attaining happiness. They disdained conventional values, such as wealth and social status, which they thought were opposed to living according to nature. The Cynics were never a well-organized philosophical school; Cynicism was more a way of life than a philosophical system. Many of their key doctrines were incorporated into Stoicism.

**********************************


Fromt he Merriam-Websters dictionary

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=cynic&x=0&y=0

Main Entry: cyn·ic
Pronunciation: 'si-nik
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French or Latin, Middle French cynique, from Latin cynicus, from Greek kynikos, literally, like a dog, from kyn-, kyOn dog -- more at HOUND
1 capitalized : an adherent of an ancient Greek school of philosophers who held the view that virtue is the only good and that its essence lies in self-control and independence
2 : a faultfinding captious critic; especially : one who believes that human conduct is motivated wholly by self-interest
- cynic adjective


*************************************

Looking at the above it seems Cynicism at least initially has nothing to do with negative attitude. A negative person is a negative person is a negative person.....

what say you?

-----------------------------------------------------------------
I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.

deleted

-----------------------------------------------------------------
wisernow

I heard from somewhere that a cynic is a person who knows the _price_ of _everything_ and the _value_ of _nothing_. Is this true?