The Greek Praise of Poverty: The Origins Of Ancient Cynicism

"Rich in new and stimulating ideas, and based on the breadth of reading and depth of knowledge which its wide-ranging subject matter requires, The Greek Praise of Poverty argues impressively and cogently for a relocation of Cynic philosophy into the mainstream of Greek ideas on material prosperity, work, happiness, and power." — A. Thomas Cole, Professor Emeritus of Classics, Yale University "This clear, well-written book offers scholars and students an accessible account of the philosophy of Cynicism, particularly with regard to the Cynics' attachment to a life of poverty and their disdain for wealth. I have truly profited from reading William Desmond’s book." — Luis Navia, New York Institute of Technology William Desmond, taking issue with typical assessments of the ancient Cynics, contends that figures such as Antisthenes and Diogenes were not cultural outcasts or marginal voices in the classical culture of the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. Rather, the Cynic movement had deep and significant roots in what Desmond calls "the Greek praise of poverty." Desmond demonstrates that classical attitudes toward wealth were complex and ambivalent, and allowed for an implicit praise of poverty and the virtues it could inspire. From an economic and political point of view, the poor majority at Athens and elsewhere were natural democrats who distrusted great concentrations of wealth as potentially oligarchical or tyrannical. Hence, the poor could be praised in contemporary literature for their industry, honesty, frugality, and temperance. The rich, on the other hand, were often criticized as idle, unjust, arrogant, and profligate. These perspectives were reinforced by typical Greek experiences of war, and the belief that poverty fostered the virtues of courage and endurance. Finally, from an early date, Greek philosophers associated wisdom with the transcendence of sense experience and of such worldly values as wealth and honor. The Cynics, Desmond asserts, assimilated all of these ideas in creating their distinctive and radical brand of asceticism. Theirs was a startling and paradoxical outlook, but it had broad appeal and would persist to exert a manifold influence in the Hellenistic period and beyond. "Rich in new and stimulating ideas, and based on the breadth of reading and depth of knowledge which its wide-ranging subject matter requires, __The Greek Praise of Poverty__ argues impressively and cogently for a relocation of Cynic philosophy into the mainstream of Greek ideas on material prosperity, work, happiness, and power." —**A. Thomas Cole, Professor Emeritus of Classics, Yale University** "This clear, well-written book offers scholars and students an accessible account of the philosophy of Cynicism, particularly with regard to the Cynics' attachment to a life of poverty and their disdain for wealth. I have truly profited from reading William Desmond’s book." —**Luis Navia, New York Institute of Technology** William Desmond, taking issue with typical assessments of the ancient Cynics, contends that figures such as Antisthenes and Diogenes were not cultural outcasts or marginal voices in the classical culture of the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. Rather, the Cynic movement had deep and significant roots in what Desmond calls "the Greek praise of poverty." Desmond demonstrates that classical attitudes toward wealth were complex and ambivalent, and allowed for an implicit praise of poverty and the virtues it could inspire. From an economic and political point of view, the poor majority at Athens and elsewhere were natural democrats who distrusted great concentrations of wealth as potentially oligarchical or tyrannical. Hence, the poor could be praised in contemporary literature for their industry, honesty, frugality, and temperance. The rich, on the other hand, were often criticized as idle, unjust, arrogant, and profligate. These perspectives were reinforced by typical Greek experiences of war, and the belief that poverty fostered the virtues of courage and endurance. Finally, from an early date, Greek philosophers associated wisdom with the transcendence of sense experience and of such worldly values as wealth and honor. The Cynics, Desmond asserts, assimilated all of these ideas in creating their distinctive and radical brand of asceticism. Theirs was a startling and paradoxical outlook, but it had broad appeal and would persist to exert a manifold influence in the Hellenistic period and beyond. Contents 6 Preface 8 Acknowledgments 12 Abbreviations 14 1. Approaches to Ancient Cynicism 16 2. Praise of Poverty and Work 42 "POVERTY IS WEALTH" 46 What is wealth? What i s poverty? Quantitative vs. qualitative wealth 46 Sources, uses, and abuses of wealth 55 Physical labor the primary cause of wealth 56 Injustice the means to great private wealth 57 The burdens and benefits of wealth 70 The burdens of wealth: Leitourgiai 70 The benefits of wealth: Luxuries? 76 The benefits of wealth: Leisure? 81 "IDLENESS IS WORK": THE CYNIC VERSION OF AN "INDUSTRIOUS OPTIMISM" 86 The traditional work-ethic 87 The imperial work-ethic 91 The philosophical work-ethic 96 ECONOMIC BACKGROUND TO CYNIC ASCETICISM 112 3. Praise of Poverty and War 120 THE PRAISE OF MARTIAL POVERTY 122 THE TESTIMONY OF HISTORY: POVERTY'S UNAIDED VICTORY OVER TYRANICAL WEALTH 131 The Persian Wars 131 The Peloponnesian and Other Wars 138 FOURTH-CENTURY POLITICAL THINKERS 147 CYNIC MILITARY ASCETICISM 152 4. Praise of Poverty and Philosophical Wisdom 158 PARMENIDES AND ELEATIC ONTOLOGY 161 SOPHISTIC WEALTH AND SOCRATES 169 PLATONIC POVERTY 174 CYNIC POVERTY 179 5. The Persistence of Cynic Ideals 184 Notes 190 Preface 190 1. Approaches to Ancient Cynicism 190 2. Praise of Poverty and Work 196 3. Praise of Poverty and War 214 4. Praise of Poverty and Philosophical Wisdom 223 5. The Persistence of Cynic Ideals 229 Bibliography 230 Index 242