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The Cynic Philosophers: From Diogenes to Julian (Penguin Classics) Paperback – February 26, 2013

by Various (Author), Robert Dobbin (Translator, Introduction)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 215 ratings
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A unique new volume illuminating the philosophy of the ancient Greek and Roman Cynics
 
The Greek Cynics owned no property and rejected fame and fortune, living almost entirely out of doors while surviving on wild plants and water from natural springs. They promoted ideals such as self-sufficiency, freedom, detachment, shamelessness, and toughness, and their philosophy penetrated not only Greek but also Roman civilization. This unique anthology draws together the writings on and by various Cynic philosophers, from founding figures Antisthenes and Diogenes of Sinope to Hipparchia, one of the few female philosophers in antiquity, and fourth-century Roman emperor Julian "the apostate."

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    232 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Classics
  4. Publication date
    February 26, 2013
  5. Grade level
    12 and up
  6. Reading age
    18 years and up
  7. Dimensions
    7.8 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    0141192224
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0141192222
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Dobbin received a Ph.D. in classics from the University of California at Berkeley and taught history and classics at the college level. He is the translator and editor of Epictetus' Discourses and Selected Writings for Penguin Classics, as well as articles on Virgil, Plato, and Pythagoras. He works as a book editor in Northern California.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics; Reprint edition (February 26, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 232 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0141192224
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0141192222
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 12 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 215 ratings

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4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
215 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Coffee Junkie
5.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable, Challenging Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2013
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I'm no philosopher or philosophy major, but I enjoy the history of ideas. I'm very grateful to the editors at Penguin for making this highly readable introduction to the Cynics available to general readers. The anecdotes and sayings, especially those of Diogenes and Bion, really make you believe you are getting to know not just a philosophical doctrine but very memorable characters, even if some of the stories are apocryphal. I found myself laughing aloud at some of these characters' observations and stories and sharing them with family in the room.

Reading about the men who took the "shortcut to virtue" will probably challenge you as well as amuse you, as well as raise the question: are these men crazy (Diogenes would be locked away for pulling his stunts today), or were they the only sane people around?

Highly recommended.
21 people found this helpful
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Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars very informative
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2023
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Well footnoted. Great overview of Cynic thought and its criticism. The author presents a well balanced overview from extant writings.
One person found this helpful
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gustavo Inacio ferreira assis
5.0 out of 5 stars A piece of the puzzle
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2021
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I’ve been studying stoicism for about 2,5 years and learning about cynicism explained so much of the concept we meditate on stoicism. Great reading, I’ve bought several other books on cynicism already. It definitely deserves all the attention one can give it.
Thank you for the amazing book, I jotted down many quotes and ideas from this book that Have been useful and will keep being so in the future.
5 people found this helpful
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John
4.0 out of 5 stars Direct translation of ancient works with limited modern relevance… and a few powerful ideas
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2022
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The Cynics spurned property, power, and even social approval. They rejected custom and comfort, embracing instead an impoverished life of sleeping outdoors, foraging for food, and dressing in a single dirty cloak in full view of their metropolitan neighbors. This, they proclaimed for all to hear, is a shortcut to virtue and the only real path to freedom and happiness. The simple, natural life, they insisted, is the cure for “enslavement to the belly and the groin” and the “opinions of the crowd.”

”Learn to scorn pleasure, to respect hard work, ignore reputation, good or bad, and not to fear death, and you will be able to do anything you want, and gladly too.” - Teles

Don’t be fooled, though. The selection of translations in this book contain few gems for modern readers other than to present a well-rounded perspective on the lives of those ancient philosophers. Their arguments often appeal to forgotten myths, dead gods, and a virtue ethic that is no longer universal. Some of them even read like the treatise of an adolescent boy: full of vulgarity and assertions about the makings of a ‘real man’. Often, what they considered ‘rational’ now seems dubious.

On the whole, it’s a short, worthy read. Dobbin’s forty-page introduction to Cynicism is enlightening, the translated works from millennia ago often mention social issues with surprising parallels to our own, and I found the philosophy itself compelling enough to study its founders. I would recommend this to dedicated readers with an interest in Cynic ideologies.

”You can even derive pleasure from despising pleasure once you have got used to it.”
2 people found this helpful
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Taylor Ellwood
5.0 out of 5 stars an exploration of the cynics
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2021
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This is an intriguing book that presents the philosophies of the cynics. I read it because I was curious about who the cynics were. I found the philosophies to be interesting, as both a contrast to Stoicism, and in relation to the question how do I apply these philosophies to my life. While I wouldn’t apply all of the cynic philosophies to my life, I do think its helpful to examine such philosophies and reading this book was helpful for that.
4 people found this helpful
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Cassandra87
5.0 out of 5 stars Back to nature!
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2013
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This little volume covers the major figures of the Cynic school of philosophy (the opposite of modern "cynicism") well and at a cost a true Cynic would approve of. It provides, probably, the only fresh translations into English in decades and includes the rare fragments of the philosopher Teles which are usually neglected. Anyone interested in the philosophy of the Cynics, a philosophy that endured for nearly 800 years, and which stressed simplicity and living in harmony with nature will find this intriguing, perhaps enlightening, Well done, by a serious scholar.
23 people found this helpful
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Sakura x Juri
3.0 out of 5 stars Philosopher at work
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2014
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Good book as far as content goes. It explains the philosophy very clearly, especially when it comes to Diogenes. My main problem with this was the vocabulary used. It was annoying to search up the definitions after read every two words, and I don't think using such complex vocabulary was entirely necessary.
6 people found this helpful
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Jacob Hoppman
5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended.
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2016
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This is what you should purchase/find for your self if you are interested in the Cynics. Unfortunately other copies are either not very good or are incredibly expensive (and I'm ignorant of their quality). This is inexpensive (as the Cynics would want it) and has great selections of their philosophy. The first I particularly find wonderful - almost a precursor to Anarchism or lifestyle Anti-Capitalism in a way.

Great thinkers. Great edition of their work.
10 people found this helpful
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Prof. Giancarlo Canton
5.0 out of 5 stars Ottima ed economica antologia dei filosofi cinici antichi
Reviewed in Italy on December 12, 2022
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"The Cynic Philosophers from Diogenes to Julian" è un'ottima antologia di testi dei pensatori cinici dal fondatore della scuola Antistene fino all'imperatore Giuliano, curata da Robert Dobbin, esperto della filosofia ellenistica. Come è noto, la stragrande maggioranza degli scritti di questa scuola è andata perduta, per cui dei filosofi cinici ci restano perlopiù frammenti e testimonianze degli autori posteriori.
L'introduzione del curatore, ben fatta e chiara, mette in luce i temi fondamentali di questa scuola greca: la libertà di parola (parrhesia), tema su cui il filosofo francese M. Foucault tenne l'ultimo corso (1984) al Collège de France, l'autosufficienza (autarkeia) e l'autocontrollo (karteria) del saggio), l'esercizio quotidiano (askesis) per praticare la virtù e infine il tema della vanità (tuphos), termine che originariamente aveva il significato di fumo o vapore. Peccato non siano stati inclusi nell'antologia i pochi frammenti di Monimo, allievo di Diogene, sul tema della vanità. Sesto empirico riporta un famoso pensiero di Monimo: "Tutto non è che fumo [o vanità] (Adv. Math., VII, 480), tema che ritroviamo anche nell'incipit del libro biblico di Qohelet: "Vanità della vanità, tutto è vanità" (il greco tuphos è l'equivalente dell'ebraico hebel).
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Michael Nightingale
5.0 out of 5 stars Diogenes
Reviewed in Canada on November 12, 2020
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We can learn a lot from Diogenes "The Dog." Very well presented in this book.
One person found this helpful
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Mr. S. A. Roome
5.0 out of 5 stars Good buy, will read this many times.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2017
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Great book, really interesting. The author is objective about the historicity of certain stories about Diogenes and makes clear which are more likely to be true, and which may have been altered or exaggerated. Virtually every page has something interesting on it, and sometimes every sentence is an eye-opener. Highly recommend!
One person found this helpful
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DM
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly insightful
Reviewed in Australia on June 9, 2020
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This is a must read for lovers of Greek philosophy or even those who despise it. The latter will be particularly pleased how the cynics turn the world of values upside down. Put down your Nietzsche and read this instead.
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Robert J.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful, informative
Reviewed in Canada on January 23, 2020
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Great resource.
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