Diogenes - by Inger N I Kuin (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In his own day, the ancient philosopher Diogenes the Cynic had a reputation for eccentricity, dispensing wisdom from a clay pot in the marketplace and relieving himself in public. Since his death in 323 BCE, devoted followers passing on his ideas have made him famous the world over, but often in distorted, sanitized form. In Diogenes, classicist Inger N.I. Kuin scours all existing evidence of Diogenes and his followers to offer an in-depth account of Diogenes's life and thought, revealing a man whose innovative ideas about power, death, nature, and the body have much to teach the contemporary world. He pioneered a vision of simplicity and autonomy in his day-to-day life, stressing the importance of living in the here and now, and of always thinking for oneself. Diogenes stands apart as history's first recorded critic of slavery and a proud exile from polite society whose challenging thought proved foundational for the Stoics and their successors. Diogenes rehabilitates Diogenes as a compelling thinker for the twenty-first century, one who demands that we look at our society with fresh eyes and be unafraid of change-starting with ourselves"--

Book Synopsis

The life and thought of Diogenes the Cynic, an iconoclastic philosopher who pioneered a brash and free-thinking vision of life that inspired the philosophy of Stoicism--"a rich, engaging portrait of intellectual fearlessness" (Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cleopatra)

In his own day, the ancient philosopher Diogenes the Cynic had a reputation for eccentricity, heckling his fellow philosophers in the marketplace, living in a clay pot, and relieving himself in public. Since his death in 323 BCE, devoted followers made him and his ideas famous the world over. But what we think we know about Diogenes remains distorted and sanitized.

In Diogenes, classicist Inger N.I. Kuin scours all existing evidence of Diogenes and his followers to offer an in-depth account of Diogenes' life and thought, revealing a man whose innovative ideas about power, death, nature, and the body have much to teach the contemporary world. He pioneered a vision of simplicity and autonomy in his day-to-day life, stressing the importance of living in the here and now, and of always thinking for oneself. Diogenes stands apart as history's first recorded critic of slavery and a proud exile from polite society whose challenging thought proved foundational for the Stoics and their successors.

Diogenes rehabilitates Diogenes as a compelling thinker for the twenty-first century, one who demands that we look at our society with fresh eyes and be unafraid of change--starting with ourselves.

Review Quotes

"How did a contrary, clay-pot-dwelling, 4th century BCE original plant an explosion in thought that would continue to detonate from the Stoics and the Cynics, to Erasmus, Rousseau, and Foucault? Inger Kuin returns Diogenes to his context, peeling away the myths, approaching her idiosyncratic subject on his own terms, acknowledging the myriad holes in the record, and probing a philosophy that--in lesser hands--might seem composed largely of perverse punch-lines. A rich, engaging portrait of intellectual fearlessness."--Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Cleopatra

"Inger Kuin brilliantly brings to life one of antiquity's most colorful philosophers. Highlighting this extraordinary figure's fearless counterculturalism, radical views on slavery, and profound influence even today, Kuin expertly captures Diogenes' distinctive character, rooted equally in an unwavering moral integrity and an unquenchable desire to mock human vanities. A joy."--Tim Whitmarsh, author of Battling the Gods

"We needed a book on Diogenes the Cynic, and Inger Kuin has given us a must-read, wonderful exploration of the life and thought of one of the most outrageous philosophers in the history of humanity. May we succeed in finding our next Dog."--Massimo Pigliucci, author of How to Be a Stoic

"A crisp, accessible, and engaging portrait of the enigmatic philosopher."--Kirkus

About the Author

Inger N.I. Kuin is an associate professor of classics at the University of Virginia. Born in the Netherlands, she worked as a journalist before receiving an MA in philosophy from the University of Amsterdam and a PhD in classics from New York University. She divides her time between Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Charlottesville, Virginia.