Cynicism

MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series

By: Ansgar Allen

Narrated by: Nigel Patterson

Everyone's a cynic, yet few will admit it. Today's cynics excuse themselves half-heartedly - "I hate to be a cynic, but...." - before making their pronouncements. Narrowly opportunistic, always on the take, contemporary cynicism has nothing positive to contribute. The Cynicism of the ancient Greeks, however, was very different. Bold and shameless, it was committed to transforming the values on which civilization depends. In this volume of the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, Ansgar Allen charts the long history of cynicism, from the "fearless speech" of Greek Cynics in the fourth century BCE to the contemporary cynic's lack of social and political convictions.

Allen describes ancient Cynicism as an improvised philosophy and a way of life disposed to scandalize contemporaries, subjecting their cultural commitments to derision. He chronicles the subsequent "purification" of Cynicism by the Stoics; Renaissance and Enlightenment appropriations of Cynicism; and the transition from Cynicism (the philosophy) to cynicism (the modern attitude), exploring contemporary cynicism from the perspectives of its leftist, liberal, and conservative critics. Finally, he considers the possibility of a radical cynicism that admits and affirms the danger it poses to contemporary society.

©2020 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (P)2020 Gildan Media

Entertaining

An interesting discussion of ancient Cynicism and modern small c cynicism and what the ancient concept of Cynicism might look like if practiced today

too much '💩'. 😒

too much '💩'. 😒
my overall perspective and opinions are conflicting.
it was an okay read, but some may give it too much credit.

astounding circumstances

historical and insightful for the attuned listener. No less that permissible to an educated shelf.

good narrator, wide ranging content

interesting story of the development of cynicism over history, exploring many of the places in modern life that have some form of cynicism, not riveting but very thought provoking

So good until it gets to the 20th and 21st ce

The writer conveniently glosses over the 20th and 21st ce global and social/cultural events that have exponentially increased apathy. Context is important in understanding contemporary mutations of ‘cynicism.’

Has the author seen the logical end point of the enlightenment? Rousseau was right