Extreme Public Indecencies

Extreme Public Indecencies | Ecency

Sometimes ἀδοξία was used in a positive sense to mean disrepute or infamy, such as might result from the perpetration of crimes or shocking public opinion. It was in this sense that ἀδοξία became one of the Cynic πονοι (Dio Chrysostom 8, 16; Ibid. 9, 12). Diogenes is represented as urging a victor in the Olympic games to "Seek things which are really fine and learn to be strong, not by being beaten by men either with the cestus or with fists, but with the soul by means of poverty, disrepute (ἀδοξία), low birth or exile" (31st Letter of Diogenes). Crates declared "disrepute (ἀδοξίαν) and poverty to be his country" (D. L. 6, 93).

Ἀναίδεια (shamelessness) was an element of the Cynic tradition. Crates is represented as giving special training in this subject (D. L. 6, 94) and Epictetus mentions it as a characteristic of the Cynics of his time (Arrian 3, 22, 80). It was probably a means of demonstrating freedom and contempt of public opinion. Cicero says; "Neither are we to regard the Cynics or the Stoics, who are next to Cynics, who abuse and ridicule us for deeming things that are not shameful in their own nature to become vicious through names and expressions ... a great many arguments to the same purpose are maintained by these philosophers in the subversion of delicacy" (De Officiis 1, 35). An illustration of this feature of Cynicism was the dog-wedding of Crates, which Clemens Alexandrinus says took place at the Stoa Poikile (Stromata 4, 19; cf. Apuleius, Florida 14). The extreme public indecencies attributed to Diogenes by Dio Chrysostom, Athenaeus, Julian and D. L. are not mentioned in connection with late Cynics, and this seems to indicate a change in their practices. The Cynics of the 1st century B. C. as described by Philodemus were more shocking in their conduct than those of a later period. It seems probable that this feature of Cynicism was discouraged by occasional floggings and failures to collect contributions. Beatings are enumerated among the hardships incident to the life of the Cynic (Dio Chrysostom 8, 16, 28). Diogenes is represented as writing to another Cynic; "I hear that you are grieved because drunken Athenian youths strike us, ... know that the body of Diogenes has been beaten by drunken men, but virtue has not been shamed, since it is not its nature to be disgraced by them" (20th Letter of Diogenes; cf. D. L. 6, 33 & 41). Lucian represents a Cynic as saying; "Nor will you esteem it any inconvenience if a flogging or a turn of the rack should fall to your lot... Away with modesty, good nature and forbearance. Wipe the blush from your cheek forever… Scruple not to perform the deeds of darkness in broad daylight; select your love adventures with a view to the public entertainment" (Vitarum auctio 10). Athenaeus says, "You (Cynics) are rogues from the whipping post and the rack, devourers of other men's goods" (Deip. 4, 164). The public indecencies of the Cynics seem to have been generally discontinued in the Christian era. St. Augustine mentions them as a part of the Cynic tradition, but expresses doubt of their actual occurrence (De Civitate Dei 14,20).

Image: Greek banquet, painted by Nicias circa 420 BC
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