The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers · Chapter
Diogenes explained
This chapter recounts the life, witty sayings, and philosophical stance of Diogenes of Sinope, the Cynic philosopher.
What happens
This chapter recounts the life, witty sayings, and philosophical stance of Diogenes of Sinope, the Cynic philosopher. It includes his sharp retorts to figures like Plato, Alexander the Great, and Anaximenes, his disdain for luxury and social conventions, and the circumstances of his death and legacy.
Themes in this chapter
Virtue and Self-Sufficiency
Diogenes embodies Cynic self-sufficiency, rejecting luxury and social norms, as seen in his preference for salt over Craterus's table and his washing of vegetables.
Wisdom vs. Sophistry
Diogenes contrasts his practical wisdom with the empty rhetoric of orators like Anaximenes, whose lecture is undone by a piece of salt fish.
Death and Legacy
The chapter details Diogenes' death, his instructions for burial, and the subsequent honors and inscriptions by his fellow citizens.
Characters to notice
- Diogenes of Sinope
The central figure of the chapter, known for his Cynic philosophy, sharp wit, and ascetic lifestyle.
- Plato
Engages in a famous exchange with Diogenes about washing vegetables versus courting Dionysius.
- Alexander the Great
Visits Diogenes and is famously told 'I am Diogenes the dog.'
- Anaximenes
A fat orator whose lecture Diogenes disrupts with a piece of salt fish.
- Phryne
A courtesan who dedicated a golden statue at Delphi, which Diogenes mocks with an inscription.
- Craterus
A general whom Diogenes refuses to visit, preferring to lick salt at Athens.
Key passages
“If you had paid court to Dionysius, you would not have been washing vegetables.”
Plato suggests that Diogenes could have avoided menial labor if he had flattered the tyrant Dionysius.
This exchange highlights the contrast between Plato's political engagement and Diogenes' Cynic independence.
“I am Alexander, the great king. — And I, said he, am Diogenes the dog.”
Alexander boasts of his royal title, but Diogenes counters by identifying himself as a dog, a symbol of his Cynic philosophy.
This famous encounter underscores Diogenes' rejection of worldly power and status.
“A great multitude, but very few men.”
When asked about the crowd at the Olympic games, Diogenes distinguishes between the mass of people and the rare individuals who are truly virtuous.
This reflects the Cynic belief in the rarity of genuine human excellence.