Along with Antisthenes and Crates of Thebes, Diogenes is considered
one of the founders of Cynicism. The ideas of Diogenes, like those of
most other Cynics, must be arrived at indirectly. No writings of
Diogenes survive even though he is reported to have authored over ten
books, a volume of letters and seven tragedies. Cynic ideas are
inseparable from Cynic practice; therefore what we know about Diogenes
is contained in anecdotes concerning his life and sayings attributed
to him in a number of scattered classical sources.
Diogenes maintained that all the artificial growths of society were
incompatible with happiness and that morality implies a return to the
simplicity of nature. So great was his austerity and simplicity that
the Stoics would later claim him to be a wise man or "sophos". In his
words, "Humans have complicated every simple gift of the gods."
Although Socrates had previously identified himself as belonging to
the world, rather than a city, Diogenes is credited with the first
known use of the word "cosmopolitan". When he was asked from where he
came, he replied, "I am a citizen of the world (cosmopolites)". This
was a radical claim in a world where a man's identity was intimately
tied to his citizenship of a particular city-state. An exile and an
outcast, a man with no social identity, Diogenes made a mark on his
contemporaries.
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."
Diogenes taught by living example. He tried to demonstrate that wisdom and happiness belong to the man who is independent of society and that civilization is regressive. He scorned not only family and socio-political organization, but also property rights and reputation. He even rejected normal ideas about human decency. Diogenes is said to have eaten in the marketplace, urinated on some people who insulted him, defecated in the theatre, and masturbated in public. When asked about his eating in public he said, "If taking breakfast is nothing out of place, then it is nothing out of place in the marketplace. But taking breakfast is nothing out of place, therefore it is nothing out of place to take breakfast in the marketplace." On the indecency of his masturbating in public he would say, "If only it were as easy to banish hunger by rubbing my belly." Many anecdotes of Diogenes refer to his dog-like behavior, and his praise of a dog's virtues. It is not known whether Diogenes was insulted with the epithet "doggish" and made a virtue of it, or whether he first took up the dog theme himself. When asked why he was called a dog he replied, "I fawn on those who give me anything, I yelp at those who refuse, and I set my teeth in rascals." Diogenes believed human beings live artificially and hypocritically and would do well to study the dog. Besides performing natural body functions in public with ease, a dog will eat anything, and make no fuss about where to sleep. Dogs live in the present without anxiety, and have no use for the pretensions of abstract philosophy. In addition to these virtues, dogs are thought to know instinctively who is friend and who is foe. Unlike human beings who either dupe others or are duped, dogs will give an honest bark at the truth. Diogenes stated that "other dogs bite their enemies, I bite my friends to save them."
Diogenes was often attacked by his contemporaries for refusing to define himself as being a Greek. In Ancient Greece, there were rivalries between cities, and it was wise to ally yourself with your state. Battles were fought regularly between neighboring cities. Diogenes did not proclaim any great allegiances to a state at all. He traveled for much of his life. He was thus one of the first to say that he was a citizen of the world. Diogenes introduced the idea that borders were superfluous. While each city in Greece might have its own culture — and each place still does today — he may have believed that one could identify with a place even if he was not from there. This was a radical idea.
Diogenes was an ascetic, which basically means that he was an ancient minimalist. He believed in living only within your means, and limited his material possessions as far as he could. He was famous for his home — a giant clay jar — which he lived within. Living without many material possessions was a way to live morally. There’s a story about Diogenes smashing his only possession — a bowl that he used to eat and drink from — when he saw a young child using his hands to cup water from the river. He realized that the bowl was no longer a necessity, and thus he no longer desired it. Cynicism revolves around denying oneself luxury and being self-sufficient.
Diogenes reportedly carried a lamp around during the day, saying he was looking for “an honest man”. The joke was that he couldn’t find one. He valued virtues such as honesty highly and advocated that one should avoid superficial living. Diogenes clearly thought little of his fellow citizens. You hear it said a lot nowadays that we live in a superficial society, one obsessed with looks and youth. It might be comforting, then, to hear that Diogenes was just as disparaging towards his contemporaries. Being like Diogenes is being a cynic in the old sense; questioning your society’s values and beliefs. He believed in anti-conventionalism, which Sartre would probably have approved of. Diogenes thought that customs lacked reason, and that reason ought be our guide for moral behavior. It thus follows, argued Diogenes, that it is not immoral to go against societal customs. This was a radical proposition in Ancient Greece. For Sartre, one ought to continually question the values of one’s society, and follow one’s own path in life. This is living authentically.
Diogenes had a refreshing outlook towards death. He was asked how he wished to be buried; Ancient Greeks placed particular important on burial rituals. Diogenes told his friends that he wished to be thrown outside the city wall so wild animals could feast on his body. His friends were aghast. They asked him if he didn’t mind being eaten by wolves and the like. He said, “Not at all, as long as you provide me with a stick to chase the creatures away!” When asked how he could use the stick since he would lack awareness, he replied: “If I lack awareness, then why should I care what happens to me when I am dead?” He praised dogs and was considered to be dog-like, which I can always get behind, because I love dogs. Petting dogs is the best thing life can afford me, and thus I am a happy woman every day I pet a dog. Which is every single day of my life.
When Diogenes first moved to Athens, he arrived with a slave called Manes, who escaped from Diogenes quite quickly after they arrived in Athens. On a side note, Diogenes himself (after moving to Crete) was captured by pirates and sold as a slave. Diogenes bemoaned his ill-fortune with humor, saying “If Manes can live without Diogenes, why not Diogenes without Manes?”
Diogenes made the above remark when Alexander the Great came to visit him in his tub. Alexander is supposed to have said “If I were not Alexander, I should wish to be Diogenes”. Diogenes set Alexander straight. According to another version of their meeting, Alexander found Diogenes looking at some bones on the floor. Diogenes explained, “I am searching for the bones of your father but cannot distinguish them from those of a slave.”