The claim that Cynics preach and live unconditional poverty is as false as it seems ineradicable. It is based on misunderstandings.
Cynicism knows only one virtue
From a philosophical point of view, Cynicism is extremely minimalist.
It knows only one virtue: self-realization, understood as the will to power. And the supporting virtue of the “revaluation of all values”. Happiness is a consequence of power, understood as the seizure of that which no one can take away from you. The Stoics formulate this comprehensively; we Cynics live it.
From these two principles of Cynicism, one can easily deduce that wealth as a goal in life is not one of the values of Cynics and Stoics. They knew: money does not make happy. And many knew it, since they definitely came from wealthy families. The life goal of the Cynics is Eudaimonia1That is happiness, literally “to be surrounded by good Spirits”.
It is said that Rockefeller had a telephone booth set up in his villa for his visitors so that guests would not make calls at his expense. The richest man in the world was afraid of becoming poor. The practice of cynics and stoics is directed against this fear. Not against wealth as such.
Jesus, the eye of the needle and the buried talents.
“Jesus is said to have said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. It is unclear whether he was not talking about a rope, but anyone who has ever tried to insert a thread into a sewing needle without help knows the problem.
The frightened reaction of his disciples has also been handed down:
“Who then can be saved?” they asked in horror. Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but not for God; for for God all things are possible.”
This seems to be a typical misunderstanding that we Cynics face over and over again. The statement is, that it is not easy to have wealth without worry of losing it. This worry, however, limits our inner power and our joy in life. We easily become slaves to our money instead of remaining independent of it.
“Live dangerously!” or The Punishment for Cowardice
In many other passages in the Bible, Jesus urges people not to worry. This is typical for cynics. He again describes the consequences of worrying in a parable. And again it was misunderstood.
“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
The story of the buried talents does not refer to the fact that the one to whom the king entrusted the least would end up being deprived of that little as well. But to the fact that the king knew this servant, but still wanted to give him a chance. He knew that this servant was not prepared to live dangerously, as we Cynics demand, and indeed Nietzsche again and again. And he was right.
At last, the servant who had received the one talent also came and said, “Lord, I knew you were a stern man; you reap where you have not sown and gather where you have not scattered; because I was afraid, I hid your money in the ground. Here you have it again.” This answer was shameless, wasn’t it? He accused the king of being strict and not working himself and being fearful.
In many other passages in the Bible, Jesus urges people not to worry. This is typical of Cynics. He again describes the consequences of worrying in a parable. And again it was misunderstood.
So the king also took away the little bit of money from the servant whom he trusted the least. By the way, this story also shows:
Cynics are not selfless alturists. They do not hesitate to withhold or even take away something from someone, even if he is poor.
Krates said explicitly, that he has nothing against prosperity
Krates was an immediate disciple of Diogenes. He formulated:
“Give me prosperity on the part of the blessed gods, and that I may always have a good reputation with all men; and that in this way I may be pleasant to my friends, but bitter to my enemies, venerable to the former, fearful to the latter. Money I desire to possess, but I do not wish to have acquired it unjustly.”
The cynic Krates, pupil of Diogenes
Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose…
With the hippies song “Me and Bobby McGee“, whose lyrics deserve to be called “cynically valuable”, Janis Joplin became rich and bought a Porsche, which she envied from her rich friends in another song. (Not really)
Fasting makes you happy
One example is food. When I was wealthy, I went to an expensive food temple almost every week. It took refined food to make me happy. Now I fast all day, until evening. Right now it is 4 o’clock. I have to wait for 2 more hours. And already I would consume with great pleasure a slice of bread or jacket potato with about salt. Even a bowl of rice would satisfy me and make me happier in a simple way than my weekly visits to gourmet restaurants did back then.
And not only that. Even the appetite makes me happy and not at all bored and dissatisfied.
- 1That is happiness, literally “to be surrounded by good Spirits”