The Cynics: The Cynic Movement in Antiquity and Its Legacy (Hellenistic Culture and Society) (Paperback)

~ R. Bracht Branham (Editor), Marie-Odile Goulet-Cazé (Editor) "Of all the routes by which Socrates' philosophy was transmitted to the Hellenistic world, that followed by the Cynics was the most startling and, in..." (more)
Key Phrases: Diogenes Laertius, New York, Dio Chrysostom (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An indispensable book....a major achievement. The Cynics is the new basic tool on Cynicism from its beginning to the present day; everyone working in the field will start here." -- Journal of the History of Philosophy

Product Description

This collection of essays--the first of its kind in English--brings together the work of an international group of scholars examining the entire tradition associated with the ancient Cynics. The essays give a history of the movement as well as a state-of-the-art account of the literary, philosophical and cultural significance of Cynicism from antiquity to the present.
Arguably the most original and influential branch of the Socratic tradition, Cynicism has become the focus of renewed scholarly interest in recent years, thanks to the work of Sloterdijk, Foucault, and Bakhtin, among others. The contributors to this volume--classicists, comparatists, and philosophers--draw on a variety of methodologies to explore the ethical, social and cultural practices inspired by the Cynics. The volume also includes an introduction, appendices, and an annotated bibliography, making it a valuable resource for a broad audience.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 465 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (August 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520216458
• ISBN-13: 978-0520216457
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #530,472 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars bow wow, July 8, 2000

By A Customer

This pleasurable book fills a need by representing the Cynics in one affordable volume. The essays are diverse in the topics and time periods addressed, from Greece to Goethe and beyond. View the table of contents to preview the extravaganza. On the whole, the essays are clear and compelling reading for all interested in how different people have received some ideas of the Cynics. Be sure to note the academic fireworks in the footnotes for the most polite disagreements among contributors.