"Barrel of Diogenes": just an expression or way of life

"Barrel of Diogenes" is a winged expression. Many people have heard it, but very few people know what it means. It came to us from ancient Greece and still remains on hearing. The expression "barrel of Diogenes" appeared due to one philosopher, and in order to find out what it actually means, we must begin by studying the personality of Diogenes.

Who is it?

Diogenes - Ancient Greek philosopher, who lived in the IV century BC. He adhered to the worldview of the Cynics and was unequivocally one of his most brilliant representatives. In our time it would be called shocking.

He was born in the city of Sinop, an Asia Minor policy (policies in ancient Greece called the region of the country), located on the Black Sea coast. From his hometown Diogenes was expelled for making counterfeit money. Then he wandered about the cities of Greece for a long time, until he stopped in Athens. There he lived most of his life. In the capital of ancient Greece, he gained the glory of a philosopher and had disciples who believed in the wisdom and genius of their teacher. Despite this, Diogenes rejected such sciences as mathematics, physics and others, calling them useless. According to the philosopher, the only thing a person must know is himself.

The philosophy of Diogenes

There is a legend about how Diogenes came to philosophy. Somehow he was watching the mouse and thinking. The rodent did not need a lot of money, a big house, a beautiful wife, he just had enough. The mouse lived, rejoiced, and everything was fine with him. Comparing himself with him, Diogenes decided that there was no need for living blessings. A person can be happy, having nothing but himself. And the need for wealth and luxury is an invention of people, because of which they become even more unhappy. Diogenes decided to give up everything he has. I left myself only a bag and a bowl for drinking. But later, after seeing how the boy drinks water from his hands, he refused from them. Settled Diogenes in a barrel. In it, he lived until the end of his days.

Why Diogenes lived in a barrel? Because he adhered to the theory of cynicism. She appeared long before him, but it was he who developed this idea and brought it to people. Cynicism preached the complete spiritual freedom of man. Rejection of generally accepted norms, customs, detachment from worldly life goals such as power, wealth, fame, pleasure. Therefore, Diogenes settled in a barrel, because he considered the house a luxury, which should also be abandoned.

Diogenes preached the complete freedom of the human soul, and this, in his opinion, was true happiness. "Only those who are free from most of their needs are free," not gastronomic, physiological or sexual exceptions.

The way of life of Diogenes

Diogenes adhered to the ascetic way of life. He went down in history as an example for imitation. Ascesis is a philosophical concept, as well as a way of life based on everyday body and spirit training. The ability to resist life's troubles - that's what was the ideal of Diogenes. Ability to control their desires, their needs. He educated himself in contempt for all pleasures.

Once the passers-by saw him asking for a donation from the statue. They asked him: "Why do you ask, because it still will not give you anything." To which Diogenes answered them: "To accustom oneself to refusals." But in life he rarely asked for money from passers-by, and if he had to take it, he said: "I do not borrow, but what I owe."

The behavior of Diogenes in public

I must say that Diogenes did not particularly like people. He believed that they did not understand the meaning of human life. The most striking example is this: he walked around the city among the crowd with a lighted lantern with the words: "I'm looking for a man."

His behavior was defiant and even extremist. The latter - because he publicly demonstrated his physiological independence from a woman with the words: "That would be with hunger as well."

Diogenes' remarks have always been ironic and even sarcastic. If you read all of his aphorisms, among them there will be none that does not challenge the opinion of the human. If the crowd scolds the musician, the philosopher praises him for playing and not stealing. If a people praises someone, Diogenes always mocks.

Scandalous behavior few liked in the city, but there were also many followers.

Was there a barrel?

The expression "barrel of Diogenes" is used as a symbol of existence in complete solitude. This is also a sign of asceticism and rejection of blessings. Small and poor houses, apartments, deprived of amenities and without unnecessary embellishments, are also called the "barrel of Diogenes", since they are characterized by some asceticism. I must say, many deny the plausibility of the legend. Did Diogenes really live in a barrel? The fact is that there was no such container in ancient Greece. A barrel is called a large vessel of wooden boards, fastened with a hoop. And in Greece there were only huge clay pitchers the size of a man, and they were called "pithos".

Summing up, it can be said that the "barrel of Diogenes" is a winged expression, implying a way of life and certain ideals.