# The philosophy of cynicism

- Institution: TED
- Department: TED-Ed
- Speaker: William D. Desmond
- Year: 2019
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Business and management, History, Philosophy, Teaching and learning
- Source: [TED](https://www.ted.com/talks/william_d_desmond_the_philosophy_of_cynicism)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) (Non-commercial use only, and no changed versions.)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

In the 4th century BCE, a young Diogenes of Sinope was found to be counterfeiting coins. He was stripped of his citizenship, his money, all his possessions and sent into exile. He decided he would live self-sufficiently, close to nature, without materialism, vanity, or conformity and only then could he be truly free. William D. Desmond details how Diogenes gave rise to the philosophy of cynicism. \[Directed by Avi Ofer, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Stephen LaRosa\].

## Lectures

1. [The philosophy of cynicism](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/ted/william_d_desmond_the_philosophy_of_cynicism/a7bd46f40f4e), 6 min (TED's player)