The Court of the Gentiles Part 2, Book 4 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Of the Cynicks, their Sect, and Philoſophie.
I. Antiſthenes the father of the Cynicks, and his Schole the Cynoſarges. II. Whence they were called Cynicks? viz. from their ſeveritie againſt vice, &c. III. The Profeſſors of Cyniciſme, Antiſthenes, Diogenes, Crates, Demetrius, &c. IIII. The Genius of the Cynicks, and their affinitie which the Stoicks. V. Their principles. 1. To Live according to Virtue. 2. That External goods, as Riches, Pleaſures, Honors, are not deſireable, becauſe a wiſe man enjoys all good in God. 3. They diſliked flatterie, and bore reproaches with patience. 4. They affected impudence. 5. They were great reprovers of Vice, eſpecially of pride, yet guilty of the higheſt pride. 6. They rejected all conjectural Science, and Philoſophie, Except moral. 7. They were Religious, but not ſo ſuperſtitious as others. 8. Their Justice, and Fidelitie. 9. Their prizing Libertie. The Cynick Philoſophie originally from the Jews.
§. 1. HAving diſcourſed at large of the Platonick, The original of the Cynicks from Antiſthenes, and his Schole the Cynoſarges.and Aristotelick Philoſophie, we now proceed to the Cynick, which had its foundation alſo from Socrates's Schole by Antiſthenes the Diſciple of Socrates, who being greatly pleaſed with thoſe Diſcourſes of his Maſter, which treated of Tolerance, and Labour, inſtituted this Sect; This Antiſthenes the Head of the Cynicks (being by Countrie an Athenian, but by his Mothers ſide, a Phrygian) after the death of his Maſter Socrates made choice of the Cynoſarges, a Schole at Athens, juſt without the Gates; as the fitteſt place to Philoſophize in; ſo called from foreign, the Temple of the White, or ſwift Dog. The origination of this name is well given us by Heſychius foreign, &c. The Cynoſarges is a ſacred place ſo called for this cauſe. They ſay when Diomus ſacrificed to Hercules, there came a Dog, and Snatching away a legge of the Sacrifice, ran away therewith; others following him; and the place was ſo called from the whiteneſſe, or Velocitie of the Dog. Suidas has much the ſame in foreign.
Why called Cynicks.§. 2. From this Schole the Cynoſarges ſome conceive Antiſthenes, and his followers were called foreign Cynicks, and Antiſthenes himſelf termed foreign the Sincere Dog. So Heſych us Illuſtris. Others, ill wiſhers to the Cynicks, will have them to be ſo called from their Doggiſh impudence. Empiricus (in Pyrrh. l. 1. c. 14.) ſuppoſeth them to be called Cynicks from their defending good men, but barking at the wicked. This is the moſt probable conjecture. So Ammonius in Categor. pag 9. foreign. The Cynicks are ſo called for their Libertie in reproving Vice, and encourageing Virtue: For they ſay a dogge has ſomewhat of a Philoſophick ſagacitie, or diſcretion diſcovered in his barking at ſtrangers, and ſhaking his tail in a tawning manner on Domeſticks. So theſe Cynicks ſmile on, and ſalute Virtues, and thoſe, who live according to Virtue; but they avoid, and barke at paſſions, and thoſe who live according to paſſion, albeit they be Kings. Thus Ammonius: The like Diogenes Laertius; who makes them to be ſo called, becauſe they were ſharpe reprovers of Vice, not regarding the taunts, and abuſes put upon them; as hereafter.
The profeſſors of Cyniciſme. Antiſthenes.§. 3. Theopompus commends Antiſthenes above all the Diſciples of Socrates, as one endowed with a great acumen of judgement, and ſweetneſſe of diſcourſe; by means whereof he could lead any man to what he would. See his Character at large in Diogenes Laertius, Diogenes.and Heſychius Illuſtris. Next unto Antiſthenes, Diogenes Sinopenſis, his Auditor, is of moſt repute amongſt the Cynicks; who was indeed a perſon of prodigious Wit, as will appear by his following ſayings, and greatly admired by Alexander the Great, as alſo by Baſil in his book Of reading Gentile books. Diogenes the Cynick had for his Diſciples Monimus Syracuſanus, Oneſicritus, and Crates the Theban. Crates.This Crates had for his Auditors, his wife Hipparchia, her brother Metrocles, Menippus the Phenician, and Zeno the father of the Stoicks, whence ſprang a great fraternitie and communion 'twixt the Cynicks, and Stoicks (as elſe where) The…e followed alſo Demetrius Cynicus, Demetrius.who flouriſhed in the time of Domitian the Emperor, at Corinth; and drew into one Syſteme all the Philoſophie of the Cynicks. Philoſtratus of the life of Apollonius, lib. 4. cap. 8. ſaies of him; that for Learning's ſake he followed Apollonius, as Antiſthenes Socrates, &c. Seneca gives this Demetrius a very large Character: So lib. 7. de Benef. cap. 1. Demetrius, ſaies he, was very great, if compared with the greatest. Agen cap. 8. he was a man of exact Wiſdome. Alſo Epist. 62. He was the beſt of men: I admire him, why ſhould I not admire him? I have ſeen nothing wanting in him. Tacitus likewiſe Annal. 16. cap. 34. gives an honorable mention of him.
§. 4. As for the Genius of the Cynick Sect, The affinitie 'twixt the Cynicks, and Stoicks.it is greatly extolled by Arrianus in Epictet. lib. 3. Diſſert. cap. 22. foreign; where he ſets forth the Cynick Philoſophie as maſculine, and generous. And indeed there was a very great Cognation betwixt the Cynicks, and Stoicks. So Laertius lib. 6. having mentioned the agreement 'twixt the Cynicks, and Stoicks as to their ſentiments of the chiefeſt Good, he addes foreign. There is a certain communion betwixt theſe two Sects, whence they (the Stoicks) ſaid Cyniciſme is a ſhort way to Virtue. Laertius here points at Zeno, who honored the Cynick ſect with this Elogie: And indeed no wonder, ſeeing he himſelf, who was the head of the Stoicks, ſucked in a main part of his Philoſophie from Crates the Cynick. Yet the Stoicks differed from the Cynicks not only in external habit, but alſo in Modestie; which was the main motive, that enduced Zeno to quit the Cynick Sect: for being commanded by Crates to do ſome unbecoming acts, his modeſtie made him refuſe, and quit Crates's Schole; as hereafter. The Affinitie betwixt the Cynicks, and Stoicks will farther appear by their Principles, and Practices.
§. 5. The firſt main principle of the Cynicks was,The principles of Cyniciſme. 1. That Virtue is our chiefeſt End. that our Chief End is foreign, to live according to Virtue; which was the foreign, or firſt principle of the Stoicks alſo. And indeed th…re were ſcarce any of the Wiſer Philoſophers, but embraced this Principle; for they were all convinced of a vanitie, and vexation, that attended ſenſible enjoyments; as alſo of a more than ordinarie beautie and ſweetneſſe, which was appendent unto Virtue; only herein they greatly abuſed this common principle; in that they made Virtue deſireable for it ſelf, and ſo their God.2. That External goods are not deſireable.
§. 6.2. Hence alſo the Cynicks affected a mean obſcure, yea inindeed ſordid kind of life. Wherefore (ſaies Laertius in Antiſthenes) they lived meanly, contemning Riches, Glorie, Nobilitie: Their Food was herbs, and cold Water, their houſes obvious, and tubs, That a wiſe man enjoys all in God.&c. All which Cyn…ck Mortification was ſounded on that Principle of Diogenes foreign. Its proper to the Gods to want nothing, and to thoſe, who are like to the Gods, to make uſe of but few things. Whence alſo they aſſerted, that a Wiſe man enjoys all th…ngs in God: ſo Diogenes the Cynick (as Laertius tels us) affirmed, that Wiſe men enjoyed all things; becauſe all things belonged to the Gods; and the Gods were friends to wiſe men: now among friends all things are common. Hence likewiſe they held, that Riches, Honors, Pleaſures, and whatever the world admired ſhould be contemned. Wherefore Crates Thebanus, a noble man of great wealth, ſold his patrimonie, and betook himſelf to Cynick Philoſophie upon the perſuaſion of Diogenes; and notwithſtanding the importunitie of his friends to the contrarie, he abode fixed in that opinion of the Cynicks foreign. That Philoſophers have need of nothing. Hence alſo they delighted much in frugalitie, according to that of Greg. Nazianzen. Orat. 23. touching Hero Alexandrinus foreign. In the Cynick Sect he accuſed their impietie, but praiſed their frugalitie. Laſtly; upon the ſame account they diſliked all publick Games, ſhews, or paſſ-times. So Diogenes the Cynick ſaid foreign, The Olympick games were but great miracles of fools.
3. Their abhorring flatterie & bearing reproaches.§. 7.3. Hence alſo the Cynicks abhored flatterie, and bore reproaches with much patience, and conſtancie. Thence Antiſthenes being commended, ſaid foreign; what ill have I done? meaning it was an ill thing to be commended. Again being much applauded by a wicked man, he ſaid, foreign. I am in an Agonie, leaſt I have done ill; And Diogenes being asked, what beaſt bit moſt perniciouſly? replyed foreign Of wild beaſts the Sycophant, and of tame beaſts the flatterer bites worſt. He had alſo foreign a flattering oration is but an honey ſnare. As for bearing of reproaches, the Cynicks were very eminent, as Diogenes Laertius acquaints us. Orates was wont induſtriouſly to rail at whores, thereby to exerciſe himſelf for to bear railing: and when others Scoffed at the deformitie of his face, holding up his hands he was wont to ſay foreign, &c. Be confident, Crates, for thine eyes, and the reſt of thy bodie, for thou ſhalt ſee Scoffers puniſhed, though now they bleſſe themſelves. Diogenes the Cynick being told, that many mocked him, he replyed foreign, I mock not aga…n.
§. 8.4. Hence the Cynicks affected a kind of impudence, 4. The Cynicks affected a kind of impudence.and immodeſtie even in things diſhoneſt. So it's ſaid of Crates, that he lay with his wife, and had to do with her in open place. So Diogenes the Cynick did many things very unbeſeeming, which rendred him among many very ridiculous, but Diogenes Laertius gives this favorable interpretation of this his ſeeming exceſſe: Laert. lib. 6. foreign. Diogenes ſaid, that he imitated the Maſters of the chorus, who admitted ſome exceſſe in their tone, that ſo others might be reduced to a Concent. So that, according to Laertius, theſe extravagant exceſſes, and exorbitant impudencies of the Cynicks were aſſumed only to ſhame others out of Vices; but this their deſigne being not underſtood by the vulgar, hence their Sect became contemptible, and exploded. Thence Cicero de Officiis 1o. ſaies, that, The Nation of the Cynicks is wholly to be expelled, for it is an enemie to Modeſtie, without which nothing can be right, nothing honeſt. Whence Sidomus tels us, that in his age there ſcarce remained any of the Cynick Sect.
§. 9.5.5. Cynicks great reprovers of Vice, eſpecially of pride. The Cynicks were ſevere cenſors and reprovers of Vice; whence ſome will have them called foreign, as before. And Diogenes the Cynick being ſenſible of this imputation, that he was eſteemed of a curriſh biting diſpoſition, ſaid wittily foreign, I bite only Evil men. And as they were great reprovers of vice in general; ſo in a more ſpecial manner of Pride. Thus Antiſthenes ſeeing a Veſſel wherein Plato had vomited▪ ſaid foreign, I ſee his choler here, but I cannot ſee his pride: Diogenes Laertius.meaning Plato had not vomited that up as yet. And Diogenes the Cynick coming into Plato's Schole, he goes and treads upon his bed, or Philoſoph…zing ſeat, with this expreſſion foreign, I tread here on Plato's vain ſtudie, or proud Philoſophie; to which Plato replies foreign; O Diogenes, how much of pride doſt thou manifeſt, whileſt thou ſeemeſt not to be proud? And indeed Plato ſpake truth: for Diogenes, and the reſt of the Cyn…cks under their external, and ſeeming ſelf-denial concealed much of real pride, and ſelf-advancement. For the higheſt ſelf-advancement is that, which ariſeth from a pretended ſelf-abaſement. Thus the Cynicks in words cry down pride, though in deeds they cry it up. So Demetrius the Cyn…ck ſaid; foreign. The height of Pride ſhould be taken away, but the ſenſe of it left.
6. They rejected all Philoſophie, but moral.§. 10.6. The Cynicks rejected all conjectural Sciences; as Aſtrologie, and Divination by dreams, &c. Whence Diogenes the Cynick blamed the Mathematicians, who looked into the Moon, and ſtars, but overlookt the things under their feet: He ſaid farther to one diſcourſing about Meteors foreign; when camest thou out of heaven? Diogen. Laertius.Alſo to ſome affrighted at their dreams, he ſaid Thoſe things you do waking, you conſider not, but thoſe things you imagine in your dreams you curiouſly inquire into. Yea they rejected all Learning and Philoſophie, except moral; holding that our End is foreign to live according to Virtue. Hence they required in their Diſciples pure, and Chaſt minds. So Anti…henes to a youth abuſed unto Sodomie, but willing to be inſtructed by him, and demanding what was needful for him in order thereto, replyed foreign a new book, a new pen, and a new table: meaning a new mind is neceſſarie for a Diſciple: as Diogen. Laert. in Antiſthenes.
7. Their Religion without ſuperſtition.§. 11.7. The Cynicks were very religious towards the Gods, yet not ſo ſuperstitious, as the Pythagoreans and othe… Sects. Thence Diogenes the Cynick ſupping in the Temple, the Offalls, that were left, he took away, ſaying, foreign. Nothing that is ſordid, muſt enter into the Temple. Yet were they not ſuperſtitiouſly conceited about ceremonies of Religion: wherefore Ant…sthenes, after he had initiated himſelf at the Orphean Oracle, to ſtudie thoſe my…teries, a Prie…t telling him, that thoſe, who were initiated in thoſe Rites ſhould partake of many things foreign after death; he replyed foreign; why then dost thou not dye? intimating that thoſe ceremonies, and outward formalities were not a good foundation to rely upon.
§. 12.8. The Cynicks were great admirers of Justice, Faithfulneſse, 8. Their juſtice & faithfulneſſe.&c. So Diogenes was honored by Xeniades his Maſter, who had found him very faithful, with this Character foreign. a good Daemon has entred mine houſe. And the ſame Diogenes being upbraided by one for ſtamping money falſely, replyed, Time was, when I was, as thou now art; but ſuch as I now am, thou wilt never be. Meaning that he was now quite another man. Whence alſo he ſaid touching living well foreign; why liveſt thou, if thou haſt no care to live well?
§. 13.9. The Cynicks were great Eſteemers of Libertie, 9. Eſteem of libertie.as all the Philoſophers generally were; whence that ſaying touching Diogenes the Cynick foreign, He preferred nothing more than Libertie.
§. 14.10. The Cynicks held alſo with the Stoicks foreign that Virtue was teachable;10. Virtue teachable. wherein they differed from Socrates. More concerning the Cynicks, their Dogmes, and Inſtitutions. See Diogen. Laert…us in Anti…henes; Augu…t. Civit. Dei. lib. 14. cap. 20. and lib. 19. cap. 1. with Lud. Vives thereon.
§. 15. That the Cynicks traduced the main of their Dogmes, The Cynick Philoſophie from the Jewiſh Church originally.and Inſtitutes originally from the Jewiſh Church may appear. 1. From what has been demonſtrated touching Socrates, and his Philoſophie being derived from the Jewiſh Church. 2. From the original of ſome of the Cynicks, who were of Phenician extract; as Menippus the Phenician, &c. 3. From the Cognation 'twixt the Cynicks, and Stoicks, who received their Philoſophie originally from the Jews, as it will appear in the following Chapter. §. 8.