Philosopher’s Cloak. A Cynic Tradition in Antiquity 3501-PF-S
The seminar will be devoted to the history of the broadly understood ancient cynic movement, from its beginnings (5th/4th century BC) to its last known representative (early 6th century AD). Parallel to the analysis of historical phases of cynicism (pre-beginnings in Socrates’ activity, an origin of movement in Antisthenes’ and/or Diogenes’ activity, a classical cynic period in Diogenes of Sinope’s, Crates of Thebes’ and Hipparchia of Maroneia’s activity, periods of reception of classical cynicism in Hellenistic era and times of the Roman Empire, including figures like Bion of Borysthenes, Dio Chrysostom or Maximus the Cynic) the class will focus with special emphasis on the question of the external reception of cynical tradition. The choice of that second scope was dictated both by the state of the sources for investigation of the ancient cynicism, almost exclusively exterior to it, as well as by the nature of cynicism itself; if the aforementioned available sources are not mistaking, it would have been the easiest (in theory, but not necessarily in practice), should one not say – the most superficial – among the ancient philosophical currents. If it had really an important input for Western culture, it helped to consolidate for centuries to come the motif of the “philosopher’s cloak” signalized in the seminar’s title – i.e. the image of a thinker who treats the existing customs, living and thinking patterns at distance, just like a wanderer and drifter in foreign land. The genesis of this image, appraised in a different way in different periods (the reference to which will serve as the supplementary topic of the class), demands an analysis in times of a new search for the identity of philosophy as a discipline and as always – for philosophers as persons searching the wisdom.
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
– Student enumerates titles and authors of main sources to study ancient cynicism, indicating also an attitude of a given author towards studied philosophical movement, characterizes the nature of those sources;
– enumerates representatives of cynic movement, gives characteristics of doctrine and live of the most important among them;
– presents the chronology of cynic movement, distinguishes between its periods, but also shows elements of identity and continuity of cynical philosophy;
– explains the meaning of the cynic’s image and indicates its role in formation of philosopher’s stereotype in antiquity and, whenever possible, also in later times.
Abilities:
– Student finds primary sources (in translations) and secondary literature to study ancient cynicism;
– reconstructs the factographic content of analyzed sources and works, on basic level is able to elaborate a critical approach towards them;
– reconstructs the argumentative content of analyzed sources and works, distincts main notions and shows relations between them;
– formulates his/her own conclusions concerning studied subject basing on collected information, indicates, whenever possible, further fields of studies.
Social skills:
– Student participates in discussion in a well-mannered and competent way;
– indicates the meaning of studied issues in the history of Western thought and culture, including the contemporary (Socratic heritage, stereotype of philosopher as cynic, identity of philosophy as a discipline);
– whenever possible, initiates his/her own studies connected with the lecture topic, seeks for an inspiration to reflect upon the society he/she lives in and upon its values.
Assessment criteria
– attendance
– well prepared and active class participation
– optionally: a presentation of paper on a chosen topic
Bibliography
Primary sources: G. Giannantoni, Socraticorum Reliquiae, vol. II, Roma 1990; L. Paquet, Les cyniques grecs, Fragments et témoignages, Ottawa 1975; The Cynic Epistles: A Study Edition, A. J. Malherbe (ed.), Missoula MT 1977; Ksenofont, Pisma sokratyczne, transl. L. Joachimowicz, Warszawa 1967; Diogenes Laertios, Żywoty i poglądy słynnych filozofów, transl. I. Krońska, K. Leśniak, W. Olszewski, Warszawa 1968; Krates, Fragmenty, transl. K. Wandowicz, Wrocław 2012; Seneka, Dialogi, transl. L. Joachimowicz, Warszawa 1963; Epiktet, Diatryby, Encheiridion, z dodaniem Fragmentów oraz Gnomologium Epiktetowego, transl. L. Joachimowicz, Warszawa 1961; Lukian, Pisma wybrane, transl. W. Madyda, Warszawa 1957; Lukian, Dialogi I-III, transl. W. Madyda, Wrocław 1960-66; Klemens Aleksandryski, Kobierce zapisków filozoficznych dotyczących prawdziwej wiedzy, vol. 1-2, przeł. J. Niemirska-Pliszczyńska, Warszawa 1994; Orygenes, Przeciw Celsusowi, transl. K. Kalinkowski, Warszawa 1986; Teodoret z Cyru, Leczenie chorób hellenizmu, transl. K. Kalinkowski, Warszawa 1981.
Secondary sources: R. Dudley, A History of Cynicism. From Diogenes to the 6th Century A.D., London 1937; Le cynisme ancien et ses prolongements. Actes du colloque international du CNRS, Paris 22-25 juillet 1991, M.-O. Goulet-Cazé, R. Goulet (ed.), Paris 1993; E. L. Navia, Classical Cynicism. A Critical Study, Westport CT, London 1996; The cynics: the cynic movement in antiquity and its legacy, R. Bracht Branham, M.-O. Goulet-Cazé (ed.), Berkeley CA 1997; W. Desmond, Cynics, Berkeley, Los Angeles CA 2008; F. Sayre, Diogenes of Sinope: A Study of Greek Cynicism, Baltimore 1938; G. Pianko, Krates z Teb – cynik i parodysta, Warszawa 1954; M. Szarmach, Dion z Prusy. Monografia historyczno-literacka, Toruń 1979; E. L. Navia, Diogenes of Sinope: the man in the tub, Westport CT 1998; E. L. Navia, Diogenes the Cynic: The War Against the World, Amherst NY 2005; M. Kostyra, Cynizm jako kategoria diagnozy społeczeństw ponowoczesnych, diss. IF UW, Warszawa 2013.
Additional information
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