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The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 34 ratings
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An engaging look at the founder of one of the most important philosophical schools of ancient Greece.

The ancient philosopher Diogenes--nicknamed "The Dog" and decried by Plato as a "Socrates gone mad"--was widely praised and idealized as much as he was mocked and vilified. A favorite subject of sculptors and painters since the Renaissance, his notoriety is equally due to his infamously eccentric behavior, scorn of conventions, and biting aphorisms, and to the role he played in the creation of the Cynic school, which flourished from the 4th century B.C. to the Christian era. In this book, Jean-Manuel Roubineau paints a new portrait of an atypical philosopher whose life left an indelible mark on the Western collective imagination and whose philosophy courses through various schools of thought well beyond antiquity.

Roubineau sifts through the many legends and apocryphal stories that surround the life of Diogenes. Was he, the son of a banker, a counterfeiter in his hometown of Sinope? Did he really meet Alexander the Great? Was he truly an apologist for incest, patricide, and anthropophagy? And how did he actually die? To answer these questions, Roubineau retraces the known facts of Diogenes' existence.

Beyond the rehashed clichés, this book inspires us to rediscover Diogenes' philosophical legacy--whether it be the challenge to the established order, the detachment from materialism, the choice of a return to nature, or the formulation of a cosmopolitan ideal strongly rooted in the belief that virtue is better revealed in action than in theory.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0197666353
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0197666357
  3. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  4. Publication date
    May 30, 2023
  5. Language
    English
  6. Dimensions
    8.29 x 0.69 x 5.84 inches
  7. Print length
    152 pages
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic

The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic

The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic

The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic

The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic of is a rich, carefully woven historical tapestry out of which Diogenes' philosophical profile emerges more forcefully than in other recent accounts of his life." -- Costica Bradatan, Times Literary Supplement

"As terse and clear as its unsentimental subject could have wished" -- Thomas W. Hodgkinson, The Oldie

"Diogenes the Cynic was a radical and a disruptive public intellectual of the best kind, challenging the conventions of his day and forcing people to rethink their values and life choices. In a fast-paced and entertaining narrative, this wide-ranging introduction to the ancient traditions about Diogenes sheds fresh light on the idea of philosophy as a way of life. The vigorous translation from Jean-Manuel Roubineau's original French is complemented by a hard-hitting foreword by classical scholar Phillip Mitsis." -- Brad Inwood, author of Stoicism: A Very Short Introduction

"Diogenes the Cynic was an ancient philosopher like no other who, as a consequence, has been mythologized for centuries. In this excellent new book--compact yet comprehensive--Roubineau carefully sifts through all the ancient evidence to separate fact from myth, shedding new light on many familiar stories and anecdotes. At last we can appreciate Diogenes in his historical context, while also gaining a clearer picture of his 'philosophy with no holds barred.' This should be required reading for anyone interested in ancient philosophy." -- John Sellars, author of The Pocket Epicurean

"The book is well produced and an effective and thought-provoking contribution to a somewhat underconsidered area of classical philosophy." -- Classics for All

"A rich, carefully woven historical tapestry out of which Diogenes' philosophical profile emerges more forcefully than in other recent accounts of his life. Roubineau has a gift for rendering the abstract in concrete forms; in his book we see and hear and even smell Diogenes in his natural habitat." -- Times Literary Supplement

"The Dangerous Life and Ideas of Diogenes the Cynic is a rich, carefully woven historical tapestry out of which Diogenes' philosophical profile emerges more forcefully than in other recent accounts of his life." -- Costica Bradatan, TLS

"A good, quick read about somebody who embodied his philosophy." -- Nigel Warburton, Five Books

"I don't think Diogenes had been given enough airtime until very recently, and now that's happening... [This] a good, quick read about somebody who embodied his philosophy." -- Nigel Warburton, The Best Philosophy Books of 2023

About the Author

Jean-Manuel Roubineau is a specialist in ancient history. He previously published Milon de Crotone ou l'Invention du Sport and Les cités grecques, winner of the European History Book Prize in 2016.

Phillip Mitsis is Alexander S. Onassis Professor of Hellenic Culture and Civilization, Professor of Classics and Hellenic Studies, and affiliated Professor of Philosophy and Medieval and Renaissance Studies at New York University.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press (May 30, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 152 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0197666353
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0197666357
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.29 x 0.69 x 5.84 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 34 ratings

About the author

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Phillip Mitsis

Phillip Mitsis

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Phillip Mitsis is A.S. Onassis Professor of Hellenic Culture and Civilization at NYU. He writes on Greek and Roman philosophy, especially Epicureans and Stoics.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
34 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Dr. Dragon
5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2024
Verified Purchase
Excellent biography and review of Diogenes' cynic philosophy.
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C. Derick Varn
5.0 out of 5 stars An impressively readable scholarly treatment
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a brief but rather extensive biography of Diogenes Of Sinope. Given how fragmentary or apocryphal most of the sources on Diogenes are outside of Diogenes Laërtius, Roubineau creates a very readable narrative that also deals with the most likely true elements of Diogenes the Cynic life as well as noting narrative that are definitely later additions. Given that Cynicism is a philosophy rooted in a hagiography and emblematic anecdote, this is no.small task. This edition is translated into very readable English.
One person found this helpful
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Pip
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative. Not very engaging writing.
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
Solid and useful insights.
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Donald Robertson
5.0 out of 5 stars The Dog of Philosophy
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2023
This is an excellent translation of a great book, providing a much-needed overview of the life and philosophy of Diogenes of Sinope. It does a masterful job of weaving together the fragmentary anecdotes surviving today, producing a coherent and easy to follow account of the Cynic's character and life. We learn about his philosophy primarily through his actions so this can be considered an introduction to Cynic philosophy in general. The evidence is weighed carefully and in such a way that such scholarly considerations barely intrude on the flow of the book, as it tells us the story of the founder of Cynicism.
5 people found this helpful
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D. A. H.
4.0 out of 5 stars The translator needs a reality check
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023
I’m about 1/3 the way through this book and I have enjoyed learning about Diogenes.

However, the translator Malcolm DeBevoise seems to care little about actually selling books or enabling a diverse set of readers to enjoy this book. He needlessly, and consistently, uses the most baroque word possible in places where a simpler word would have enhanced clarity. Someone unfamiliar with the Classical period must become acquainted with a myriad of new names, places, and alien cultural differences. We don’t need a vocabulary lesson on top of all that. DeBevoise seems to care less about spreading an understanding of Diogenes and more about appearing erudite.

An editor should have stepped in to save this work from being another book read mostly by fellow academics.
13 people found this helpful
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