Cynicism
Diogenes' philosophical school
Cynicism is a disposition to distrust the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions, assuming that self-interest drives everything.
A cynic believes people act nobly only when it benefits them and tends to dismiss expressions of altruism or idealism as naive or hypocritical.
Her cynicism about politics kept her from voting.
The attitude often develops from disappointment or disillusionment.
Cynicism can protect against being taken advantage of but may also prevent genuine connection or hope. (Capitalized Cynicism refers to the ancient Greek philosophical school.)
Founder of Cynicism
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
naturalism · cosmopolitanism · shamelessness · apathy · autarky · sincerity · simplicity · renunciation
Disposition toward doubt
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- pessimismExpecting unfavorable outcomes
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
- warinessCautious distrust
doubt · incredulity · jadedness · mistrust · guardedness · disbelief · paranoia · misanthropy
Meaning opposite to words
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- satireMockery exposing vice
sneering · contempt · ridicule · disdain · caustic · biting · sardonic · acerbic
Concern for personal advantage
- opportunismExploiting circumstances for gain
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- ulteriorIntentionally undisclosed
mercenary · calculating · scheming · greed · corruption · hypocrisy · duplicity · insincerity
Diogenes
Founder of Cynicism
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
austerity · naturalism · cosmopolitanism · shamelessness · apathy · autarky · sincerity · simplicity · renunciation · detachment
skepticism
Disposition toward doubt
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- pessimismExpecting unfavorable outcomes
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
wariness · doubt · incredulity · jadedness · mistrust · guardedness · disbelief · paranoia · misanthropy · defeatism
irony
Meaning opposite to words
satire · sneering · contempt · ridicule · disdain · caustic · biting · sardonic · acerbic · wit
self-interest
Concern for personal advantage
- opportunismExploiting circumstances for gain
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- exploitationSelfish use of others
ulterior · mercenary · calculating · scheming · greed · corruption · hypocrisy · duplicity · insincerity · selfishness
- ancient GreeceAthens, Sparta, Zeus, Parthenon, Acropolis
- Greek philosophyAristotle, Socrates, Plato, Pythagoras, Academy
- philosophyethics, logic, metaphysics, ontology, epistemology
- ancient philosophyPlato, Aristotle, Socrates, Platonism, Epicureanism
- ancient wisdomVedas, proverb, Upanishads, maxim, Epicureanism
- Hellenistic cultureStoicism, Epicureanism, syncretism, cosmopolitanism, agora
Cynicismidealism
Belief in noble principles
optimism · faith · trust · naivety · Epicureanism
Cynicismtrust
Confidence in another
naivety · credulity · gullibility · innocence · trustfulness
Cynicismhope
Desire for good outcomes
hopefulness · enthusiasm · warmth · joy · cheerfulness