There is Nothing New Under the Sun by Leverenz

Author:Leverenz [Leverenz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion, Christianity, History, General
ISBN: 9781498224314
Google: 7GSPCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Published: 2015-12-02T00:39:22+00:00

Cynicism

1984

In the 4th century B. C. E. a man named Diogenes walked the streets of Athens in broad daylight with a lantern. He was looking for an honest man.

On another occasion he entered a theatre when everyone else was leaving it.

Unable to secure housing in Athens, he chose to live in a tub.

These eccentric actions by Diogenes were symbols of a philosophical system which advocated the rights of the individual in the extreme; that system: cynicism.

The intention of the cynic was to expose the artificiality of convention, of society’s customs. They wanted to free persons from bondage to all custom, convention or institution, by reducing our desires to the basics. They renounced all others imposed by civilization.

Their primary tools were outspokenness and shamelessness in action. They used these tools to expose the pretensions of “intellectuals” and politicians.

They were so indifferent to the conventions of society and such ardent missionaries of “doing what is natural” they encouraged people to go barefoot, eat and make love in public, sleep in tubs or at the crossroads of the community. They believed that shamelessness was superior to modesty.

From those origins we move quickly to the popular understanding of cynicism in our time. To people today it means an attitude of position which questions the sincerity and goodness of people’s motives and actions. Cynics today hold a contemptuous disbelief in human goodness and sincerity, not just question it.

Unfortunately there seems to be considerable evidence to support the cynic’s case.

In recent days two cities in Illinois were campaigning to have the state build a new prison in their community, when a couple of years ago they were against it. It seems the reasons for not building it were no longer valid in the light of economic survival. One might become cynical about such matters and suggest the eloquent principles inevitably take second place to the god of money. Ah, but who can blame them. Cynically speaking, maybe everything does filter down to economics and self-interest.

In the realm of sports, USC has been disciplined by the NCAA for permitting its football coach to sell at inflated prices tickets given to the athletes and turning the profits over to the athletes. When questioned about it USC students simply commented cynically, “everyone does it!” Why the display (pretentious display) of virtue?

What is true in the chambers of commerce in the towns of Illinois and on the campuses of the land is present in the political realm and in business. For example, the utility companies speak of serving us as they raise prices and even persuade Congress to compel the consumer to assist the company in the building of a gas line from Alaska. Serving?

The pretentious behavior is not only reserved for those in the field of athletics, politics and business. It is present in the field of religion and the church, and among academics and academia. Speaking of academics, I was visiting with a friend the other day who is in the employ of UNI and told him about Diogenes walking the streets of Athens with his lantern in broad daylight looking for an honest man.

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