Diogenes Throws a Chicken at Plato Diogenes of Sinope is another interesting character from the ancient philosophical world. Like Aristippus, there are numerous strange anecdotes about his life. Diogenes is often credited as the founder of the ethical philosophy known as “Cynicism.” He rejected all forms of material wealth and gave no consideration to abstract ideals such as honor or societal status. DiogenesDiogenes was content enough to lay about the streets of Athens, surviving off of a steady diet of discarded onions. When he was asked why it was that he lived on the streets rather than in a house, Diogenes would gesture to the Acropolis or the Colonnade of Zeus, saying, “The Athenians have already built places for me to live in.” While Diogenes would regularly lay about the streets, the illustrious Plato was busy teaching at his Academy. One day the master Plato had given the definition of man as a “two-footed, featherless animal.” This definition was praised by Plato’s students and the Athenian citizens alike. The only man who was unimpressed, it would seem, was Diogenes. Upon hearing of Plato’s definition of “Man, Diogenes fetched a chicken and plucked it of its feathers. He then traveled to The Academy where Plato was lecturing and threw the bird at the master philosopher’s head. The story goes that he then cried… “Behold! I give you Plato’s man.” It was after this altercation that Plato added to his definition, “…with broad, flat fingernails.”
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 02:41:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015