The Content Cynic

Shawn December 26, 2018 at 23:50 3300 views 8 comments

There's something admirable about the Cynic. She most often disregards the social contract they were born in and does their own thing. It takes a great deal of courage to be a Cynic, and stay a Cynic.

There is a great deal of pressure from society to conform to its commands and not chart out on your own course of navigation and sail off in a pontoon raft and puddle along to nowhere land. Cynicism has a negative connotation in our modern day use of language. It means:

Quoting Google Dictionary

cyn·i·cism
sin??siz?m
noun
1.an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; skepticism.
"public cynicism about politics"
synonyms: skepticism, doubt, distrust, mistrust, suspicion, disbelief; pessimism, negativity, world-weariness, disenchantment

But, us philosophers who have our own negative connotation often of being impracticable, lofty-minded, idealistic, idling engines without going anywhere, must commend the Cynic for taking philosophy to its logical end and enjoying a life full of contentment. Therefore, let us praise the Cynic;

"Praise be unto you Oh Great Cynic. Let the waters be calm wherever you sail off to."

Comments (8)

BC December 27, 2018 at 00:51 #240777 0 likes

Quoting Wallows

There is a great deal of pressure from society to conform to its commands

Really cutting loose from the demands and commands of society may be a pretty dangerous thing. If society withdraws its approval and tolerance from non-conformers, life can become wretched, or one might be terminated.

How many people are deliberate nonconformists, and how many are people who have decided to call their unhappy fate the result of their personal rebellion? For instance, is someone rejecting property, material goods, and luxury because they lost what little they had, or failed to gain the vast sums for which they hoped?

I've always thought of myself as something of a non-conformist. In fact, in many cases I just didn't fit in (and didn't know how to fit) so declaring nonconformity provided me cover.

Shawn December 27, 2018 at 00:59 #240779 0 likes

Quoting Bitter Crank

Really cutting loose from the demands and commands of society may be a pretty dangerous thing.

We, Westerners, have the luxury to conform "society" in many cases to our wants. One can live in an ashram, or next to some pond near Walden without undue burden from what "The Man" wants.

Quoting Bitter Crank

If society withdraws its approval and tolerance from non-conformers, life can become wretched, or one might be terminated.

Yes, well we can catastrophize about circumstances changing; but, fortunately, we aren't talking about living in some loony bin like Waco, Texas. Of course, a lot of fringe people do decide to live on their own due to resentment from society. Think the Unibomber. But, I don't think that most people who decide to live on a farm away from people are in any way like that. Fortunately, not. Specifically talking about the Cynic here.

Quoting Bitter Crank

How many people are deliberate nonconformists, and how many are people who have decided to call their unhappy fate the result of their personal rebellion?

Is it really rebellion? Perhaps it's a rebellion from the insane society we live in? When is one justified in living away from people? I often think that you have to have a limited or very understanding family to resort to moving away from society and abandoning one's home or reinterpreting it in such a way.

Quoting Bitter Crank

I've always thought of myself as something of a non-conformist. In fact, in many cases I just didn't fit in (and didn't know how to fit) so declaring nonconformity provided me cover.

Cover from what? The pangs on one's collective conscious?

BC December 27, 2018 at 05:31 #240831 0 likes

Quoting Wallows

Cover from what?

I always thought it was better to be merely a nonconformist than be considered a diseased pariah.

Quoting Wallows

he most often disregards the social contract they were born in and does their own thing. It takes a great deal of courage to be a Cynic, and stay a Cynic.

IF one is going to be a nonconformist, if one is just going to do one's own thing, one ought to be nonconforming for some worthwhile end.

Shawn December 27, 2018 at 05:47 #240834 0 likes

One thing that I should amend in regards to the OP, is that the Cynic doesn't do his or her "own thing" with a sense of non-conforming manner of rebelliousness or such. It's for the sake of virtue. This fact gets neglected by the masses and has led to the above mentioned negative connotations.

Shawn December 27, 2018 at 05:48 #240835 0 likes

Reply to Bitter Crank

What do you think about my previous post?

BC December 27, 2018 at 06:28 #240848 0 likes

Reply to Wallows I like it, "for the sake of virtue".

TheMadFool December 27, 2018 at 07:18 #240856 0 likes

Reply to Wallows I think the cynic isn't disappointed. Content? I don't think so.

What does that say about a cynic's mental health?

Is s/he really a wise wo/man or s/he just a coward?

Shawn December 27, 2018 at 07:45 #240861 0 likes

Quoting TheMadFool

What does that say about a cynic's mental health?

The Cynic is rational in her own way. She has reasons. Virtue above all else.