I am giving below two diametrically opposing schools of Philosophy; Cynicism and Epicureanism. My preference is towards Epicureanism. Today we may feel that there is little of value in them, but the questioning spirit and the challenge to the known conventions mark both of them. It is only with challenge and questioning of our thoughts clarify concepts. If man is where he is today, it is only because of this spirit. Both these philosophies are some 2500 years old.
CYNICS.
Antisthenes is supposed to have originated this philosophy. In Latin cynicus means pertaining to dog. From thence the term cynic seems to have arisen. Diogenes, the cynic said that people should live like dogs.
Antisthenes is elder to Plato by 20 years and is a disciple of Socrates. By his time Pericles has died and Greece has become a part of Macedonia.
Antisthenes gave up all his worldly possessions. He lived with the common people and dressed and spoke like them. Like the Anarchists he said that there should not be any form of Government. He said that there should not be any property, the institution of marriage and also religion. He developed brashness in speech and cultivated an aggressive behavior. He believed that all men are selfish and there is nothing called goodness in mankind.
Diogenes, a disciple of Antisthenes surpassed his Guru. He used to live in a tub and used to search around Athens with a flame in hand to find the real man. It is said that one day Diogenes was sitting in the sun. Alexander the Great came to know of his fame and came to see him and asked Diogenes what he wanted. Diogenes asked the Emperor to move from the place where he is standing because Alexander’s shadow fell on him. Then Alexander said, “Had I not been Alexander I would have preferred to live like Diogenes.”
As per Diogenes life is bitter, education is a waste, life is a waste, there is treachery everywhere. Kings, subjects, science, happiness, money, fame, honor, patriotism, good, respect, home, food, culture, law and in fact the entire life is a waste as per him. Men should live like animals in intimacy with nature.
But, the Cynics said how does one gets freedom? In renouncing desires they said. All desires should be renounced they said. Desire creates fear. Riches are not permanent. Our ethics, our renunciation, our freewill, our mind are the only ones which are really ours. If this is cultivated then all world is ours.
Diogenes practiced what he preached. He used to go around begging with a bowl. In the 3rd century BC, Cynicism has become a fashion.
EPICUREANS
Another student of Socrates, Aristippus founded a system of philosophy now known as “Epicureanism”. He was born at Cyrine in Africa and his followers are also known as Cyrenaics.
Aristippus is dead against the Cynics. He said that all living beings try from birth to be happy and therefore, happiness is the ultimate goal of life.
He concurred with the Sophists and said that each person is his own measure. What is seen be one might not be seen by another. Your perception is yours and my perception is mine. I might view the external world differently than you. So one can never generalize about the external world. The same thing can be said about happiness too. You might achieve happiness by one method and I, by another. So, we cannot commit anything to a clear definition. There is nothing called higher or lower in happiness and everything is equal. Sensory happiness is as great as mental happiness because even mental happiness occurs only through the sensory organs. Sensory happiness is the best happiness, and the more intense it is, the happier you are.
The greatest philosopher of this school is Epicurus who was born at Samos in Greece. He established a school in Athens and enlightened many of his students on his philosophy and led a simple life. Although Epicurus believed happiness to be the end of human existence, he did not believe in unfettered happiness.
None of Epicurus’s works survive today and his ideas have come to us through the works of the Roman poet Lucretius.
Epicurus’s school had students from slaves as well as prostitutes. The Athenians claimed that his school is a place of debauchery. But it is possible that his students led a disciplined life. As a man Epicurus is very helpful and friendly. He believed that friendship is the sweetest thing in all of creation. He believed that the aim of life is happiness and life has to be lived happily. But his definition of happiness is different. He said that absence of sorrow is happiness, absence of desire is happiness. A calm mind and self-control is happiness. There is no happiness in searching for happiness; in fact happiness is not searching for happiness. Intense happiness is followed by intense sorrow. Therefore both have to be avoided. One has to enjoy happiness without knowing that one is enjoying it. One has to develop self-control for this. He had digestive problems so he believed that good digestion gives happiness and is very strict about eating habits in his school. He resented politics, property, fame etc. and said that one should live away from society in peace.
The external world does not allow man to live peacefully. One has to shed superstitions and meaningless fear too. One should not fear death and also unknown forces. The soul perishes with the body and nothing is left. It is a state where there are no feelings. So why should one fear death? There are Gods but they live far away and do not interfere in our affairs. They can neither help us nor harm us.
The entire universe is made up of atoms. Who created them? They are ever existing and are self-caused. They have motion in them. He also assumed a crude type of Darwinism.
Like the body, mind too is made up of atoms. With the body mind also perishes and nothing is left.
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