The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism Book PDF, ePub eBook

Join our eBook service for unlimited books & audiobooks. Get a free 7 day subscription! ↓↓↓↓↓


Book Descriptions:
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 pe

The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism by William D Desmond

From reader reviews:

Cameron Keller:

Here thing why that The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism are different and reputable to be yours. First of all looking at a book is good nonetheless it depends in the content from it which is the content is as scrumptious as food or not. The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism giving you information deeper as different ways, you can find any reserve out there but there is no guide that similar with The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism. It gives you thrill reading journey, its open up your current eyes about the thing in which happened in the world which is maybe can be happened around you. You can bring everywhere like in recreation area, café, or even in your technique home by train. Should you be having difficulties in bringing the imprinted book maybe the form of The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism in e-book can be your choice.

Emmanuel Young:

Exactly why? Because this The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism is an unordinary book that the inside of the reserve waiting for you to snap the idea but latter it will distress you with the secret this inside. Reading this book next to it was fantastic author who have write the book in such amazing way makes the content inside of easier to understand, entertaining means but still convey the meaning entirely. So , it is good for you for not hesitating having this nowadays or you going to regret it. This unique book will give you a lot of gains than the other book get such as help improving your expertise and your critical thinking technique. So , still want to hold up having that book? If I were you I will go to the reserve store hurriedly.

Jeffrey Roybal:

The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism can be one of your beginning books that are good idea. Most of us recommend that straight away because this guide has good vocabulary that may increase your knowledge in vocab, easy to understand, bit entertaining but nonetheless delivering the information. The article author giving his/her effort to set every word into delight arrangement in writing The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism nevertheless doesn't forget the main level, giving the reader the hottest and based confirm resource details that maybe you can be considered one of it. This great information could drawn you into new stage of crucial imagining.

Michael Martin:

The book untitled The Greek Praise of Poverty: Origins of Ancient Cynicism contain a lot of information on that. The writer explains her idea with easy approach. The language is very clear to see all the people, so do definitely not worry, you can easy to read the item. The book was compiled by famous author. The author provides you in the new period of time of literary works. You can easily read this book because you can keep reading your smart phone, or gadget, so you can read the book in anywhere and anytime. If you want to buy the e-book, you can wide open their official web-site and order it. Have a nice go through.