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==The rise of modern cynicism==

==The rise of modern cynicism==

The classical Greek and Roman Cynics regarded virtue as the only necessity for happiness. They sought to free themselves from conventions; become self-sufficient; and live only in accordance with nature. They rejected any conventional notions of happiness involving money, power, or fame, in the pursuit of virtuous, and thus happy, lives.[3] In rejecting conventional social values, they would criticise the types of behaviours, such as greed, which they viewed as causing suffering. Emphasis on this aspect of their teachings led, in the late 18th and early 19th century,[4] to the modern understanding of cynicism as "an attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others."[5] This modern definition of cynicism is in marked contrast to the ancient philosophy, which emphasized "virtue and moral freedom in liberation from desire."[6]

The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece classical Greek] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome Roman] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicism Cynics] regarded [[virtue]] as the only [[necessity]] for [[happiness]]. They sought to [[free]] themselves from [[conventions]]; become self-sufficient; and live only in accordance with [[nature]]. They rejected any [[conventional]] notions of [[happiness]] involving [[money]], [[power]], or [[fame]], in the pursuit of virtuous, and thus [[happy]], lives. In rejecting conventional social values, they would [[criticise]] the types of [[behaviours]], such as [[greed]], which they viewed as causing [[suffering]]. [[Emphasis]] on this aspect of their teachings led, in the late 18th and early 19th century, to the modern understanding of cynicism as "an [[attitude]] of [[scorn]]ful or jaded [[negativity]], especially a general distrust of the [[integrity]] or professed [[motives]] of [[others]]." This modern definition of cynicism is in marked [[contrast]] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Philosophy ancient philosophy], which emphasized "[[virtue]] and moral [[freedom]] in [[liberation]] from [[desire]]."

Modern cynicism has been defined as an attitude of distrust toward ethical and social values and a rejection of the need to be socially involved.[7] It is often regarded as a product of mass society, but one where political engagement has no option but to be cynical.[8][9] Unlike mere depression, cynicism can be said to be more active; in his bestselling Critique of Cynical Reason, Peter Sloterdijk defined modern cynics as "borderline melancholics, who can keep their symptoms of depression under control and yet retain the ability to work, whatever might happen ... indeed, this it the essential point in modern cynicism: the ability of its bearers to work - in spite of anything that might happen."[10] David T. Wolf said that "Idealism is what precedes experience. Cynicism is what follows."[1] It can be said that modern cynicism is the opposite of optimism and a more accurate antonym is naiveté[2] which further supports this view.

[[Modern]] cynicism has been defined as an [[attitude]] of distrust toward [[ethical]] and social [[values]] and a rejection of the need to be socially involved. It is often regarded as a product of mass society, but one where [[political]] engagement has no [[option]] but to be cynical. Unlike mere [[depression]], cynicism can be said to be more [[active]]; in his bestselling [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critique_of_Cynical_Reason ''Critique of Cynical Reason''], Peter Sloterdijk defined modern cynics as "borderline melancholics, who can keep their [[symptoms]] of [[depression]] under [[control]] and yet retain the [[ability]] to [[work]], whatever might happen ... indeed, this it the [[essential]] point in modern cynicism: the ability of its bearers to [[work]] - in spite of anything that might happen." David T. Wolf said that "[[Idealism]] is what precedes [[experience]]. Cynicism is what follows." It can be said that modern cynicism is the [[opposite]] of [[optimism]] and a more accurate antonym is [[naiveté]] which further supports this view.

[[Category: Psychology]]

[[Category: Psychology]]