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Diogenes of Sinope

Type Figure Region Greece Time c. -412–-323 Also known as Diogenes the Cynic

Diogenes was a Greek Cynic philosopher born in Sinope on the Black Sea who later went to Athens and followed Antisthenes;…

Timeline

  1. c. -412–-360Sinope · southern Black Sea coastBorn in the Black Sea coastal city of Sinope, he was forced into exile over involvement in coinage fraud or defacing of the currency, leaving his homeland for the Greek world, setting the stage for the turning point of his philosophical career.
  2. c. -360–-330Athens · AtticaIn Athens he followed Antisthenes and practiced philosophy through extreme simplicity: living in a tub, in rags, and publicly challenging social conventions, using sharp words and deeds to mock wealth, power, and hypocritical morality, becoming the most representative figure of the Cynic school.
  3. c. -330–-323Corinth · PeloponneseIn his later years he moved to Corinth, continuing to teach and live; legend has it that Alexander visited and asked what he wanted, to which he replied "Stand out of my sunlight"; he died in Corinth around 323 BCE, and his anecdotes spread widely through later literature.

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