Some believe the term cynic is derived from the Greek word for dog. Cynics, therefore, live like beasts.

As one who has been chastised for being so cynical, the times we live in do not engender much reason to change. Even so, there is some evidence cynicism is unhealthy.

Followers of Socrates are given credit for the genesis of cynicism:

A prominent follower of Socrates in the early 4th century bce, Antisthenes, emphasized the Socratic doctrine that a good man cannot be harmed; virtue, in other words, is by itself sufficient for happiness. That doctrine played a central role in a school of thought, founded by Diogenes of Sinope, that had an enduring influence on Greek and Roman philosophy: Cynicism. Like Socrates, Diogenes was concerned solely with ethics, practiced his philosophy in the marketplace, and upheld an ideal of indifference to material possessions, political power, and conventional honours. But the Cynics, unlike Socrates, treated all conventional distinctions and cultural traditions as impediments to the life of virtue. They advocated a life in accordance with nature and regarded animals and human beings who did not live in societies as being closer to nature than contemporary human beings. (The term cynic is derived from the Greek word for dog. Cynics, therefore, live like beasts.) Starting from the Socratic premise that virtue is sufficient for happiness, they launched attacks on marriage, the family, national distinctions, authority, and cultural achievements. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/...cy-of-Socrates

To the cynics, living in accord with nature and without conventions was the key.

Foremost for understanding the Cynic conception of ethics is that virtue is a life lived in accord with nature. Nature offers the clearest indication of how to live the good life, which is characterized by reason, self-sufficiency, and freedom. Social conventions, however, can hinder the good life by compromising freedom and setting up a code of conduct that is opposed to nature and reason. Conventions are not inherently bad; however, for the Cynic, conventions are often absurd and worthy of ridicule. The Cynics deride the attention paid to the Olympics, the “big thieves” who run the temples and are seen carrying away the “little thieves” who steal from them, politicians as well as the philosophers who attend their courts, fashion, and prayers for such things as fame and fortune.

Only once one has freed oneself from the strictures that impede an ethical life can one be said to be truly free. As such, the Cynics advocate askēsis, or practice, over theory as the means to free oneself from convention, promote self-sufficiency, and live in accord with nature. Such askēsis leads the Cynic to live in poverty, embrace hardship and toil, and permits the Cynic to speak freely about the silly, and often vicious, way life is lived by his or her contemporaries. The Cynics consistently undermine the most hallowed principles of Athenian culture, but they do so for the sake of replacing them with those in accord with reason, nature, and virtue.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/cynics/

Contemporary cynicism has evolved to a distrust of other's apparent motives.

The classical Greek and Roman Cynics regarded virtue as the only necessity for happiness. They sought to free themselves from conventions; become self-sufficient; and live only in accordance with nature. They rejected any conventional notions of happiness involving money, power, or fame, in the pursuit of virtuous, and thus happy, lives.[3] In rejecting conventional social values, they would criticise the types of behaviours, such as greed, which they viewed as causing suffering. Emphasis on this aspect of their teachings led, in the late 18th and early 19th century,[4] to the modern understanding of cynicism as "an attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others."[5] This modern definition of cynicism is in marked contrast to the ancient philosophy, which emphasized "virtue and moral freedom in liberation from desire."[6]

Modern cynicism has been defined as an attitude of distrust toward ethical and social values and a rejection of the need to be socially involved.[7] It is often regarded as a product of mass society, but one where political engagement has no option but to be cynical.[8][9] Unlike mere depression, cynicism can be said to be more active; in his bestselling Critique of Cynical Reason, Peter Sloterdijk defined modern cynics as "borderline melancholics, who can keep their symptoms of depression under control and yet retain the ability to work, whatever might happen ... indeed, this is the essential point in modern cynicism: the ability of its bearers to work - in spite of anything that might happen."[10] David T. Wolf said that "Idealism is what precedes experience. Cynicism is what follows."[1] It can be said that modern cynicism is the opposite of optimism and a more accurate antonym is naiveté[2] which further supports this view.

Social cynicism results from excessively high expectations concerning society, institutions and authorities: unfulfilled expectations lead to disappointment, which releases feelings of disillusionment and betrayal.[11] In organizations, cynicism manifests itself as a general or specific attitude, characterized by frustration, hopelessness, disillusionment and distrust in regard to economic organizations, managers and/or other aspects of work.[12] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicis...ontemporary%29

In A Field Guide to the Cynic, Elizabeth Syoboda tells us:

Don't stop parroting Daily Show host Jon Stewart just yet, but a cynical outlook really can take years off of your life. Thanks to their nihilistic bent, cynics tend to engage in more self-destructive behaviors than their sunnier peers. Research has shown that they smoke and drink more, and are more likely to commit suicide.

Cynics also suffer and die from heart problems in disproportionate numbers. Cardiologist Donald Haas at New York's Mount Sinai Medical School found that suspicious people who suffer from heart disease are more than twice as likely as their more optimistic counterparts to end up gravely ill or hospitalized for their condition. Haas speculates that cynics may be less likely to follow doctors' orders—either out of spite or despondency. http://www.psychologytoday.com/print/20376

There are times I am overwhelmed by what I see going on in the world. The frustration is immense. Yet I know getting so worked up is not healthy. Gandhi advocates being the change I want to see in the world. I have tried by writing letters to the editor, to my congressional delegation and to the president's web site.

The newspaper most often refuses to publish my letters -- their agenda is the polar opposite of mine. The congressional delegation sends me slick letters that are meaningless. Not surprisingly, I have not gotten a response from the President.

Now, I volunteer more.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

As one who has been chastised for being so cynical, the times we live in do not engender much reason to change.

Starting from the Socratic premise that virtue is sufficient for happiness, they launched attacks on marriage, the family, national distinctions, authority, and cultural achievements.

You need a reason to change and are looking outside yourself for it? Why give your power to "the times". If you want to be less cynical, look more often at positive things instead of negative?

Too, how is it virtuous to launch attacks?

"Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting individual and collective well being." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue

Do not assume I listened to them.

Really? It helps to be more positive?

I did not say I launched attacks.

"Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting individual and collective well being." You are kidding, right?

[gma45]

My cynicism over the years usually has proven to be correct. Banking,government,etc.. That is why I left the big city and lived in the country for the last thirty years. Also that is part of the reason my depression has gotten so bad this time I had to move back to the city. I am better living with nature than concrete.

[roads]

I find Gandhi's response to cynicism (& yours, via volunteering) one that--if nothing else--removes the negative weight of cynicism from me while I'm engaged.

I work with shelter animals. Other things I tried only kindled my cynicism after a while. I work especially with the older & frightened ones who have less & less chance of adoption as time goes on. A lot go on to find homes.

I may never do any work directly involving people. People say I waste my time on animals. I carry earplugs when I leave home now. I'm so sick of what people say.

[Gus1234U]

i resonate with the idea that all grasping leads to suffering, and to hold an idea as a guide to living is certain disappointment. i agree, life is to be lived ethically, or virtuously, despite any actions or words by another. it is not difficult to know what is ethical, or virtuous: harm none. if we only spent our time not harming ourselves and others, there would be no need for treatises on Cynicism. and all that energy could then go to helping make this a better world. best wishes, ,Gus

[pgrundy]

I like the older definition, the one that equates cynics to people living like dogs, closer to nature, farther from society. If people were more like dogs we'd be fine. Dogs love unconditionally and sort themselves out in packs instinctively. Yes there are alphas and omegas but they have specific roles--no real social hierarchy like humans tend to create.

Much of the hype about positivity is a reaction to the Calvinist attitudes of the 1800s that produced an epic of 'invalidism' (a.k.a. depression, although that word hadn't been introduced yet).

Barbara Erhenreich's book "Bright Sided" gives a terrific history of how this cheer-as-medicine was eventually sold to corporate America and how it directly contributed to our financial downfall by separating right action from outcomes at the very top of corporate organizations. Prominent CEOs were attending workshops in the 90s that taught that attitude was everything, performance irrelevant. Now look where we are.

Anyone who has ever worked for a huge corporation knows that you are required to be cheerful no matter what. It becomes delusional. It's like entering a parallel reality where everything is inside out and nothing means what you think it means. For instance, when I worked for a huge regional bank back in 2007 and started getting daily memos about how great the bank was doing, I said, "Oh-oh. The bank's going down." A year later it did. That's what happens when positivity is legislated--no accountability and everything must be translated. Official language turns Orwellian.

What we need is balance. I try to see the world for what it is but detach myself from it. After all, it will do what it does, regardless of how I feel about it. In front of my nose though, my own life is happening.

Don't want to miss THAT.