As a school of philosophical
thought, cynicism disappeared over the end of the 5th century CE,
roughly a millennium after it was first outlined.
Today, the term “cynicism” is used
in reference to behavior and thought that is distrustful of the
motivations of others. A person who is cynical in the contemporary
sense sees society around them as being driven by base selfishness.
This outlook leads to pessimism toward the ability of human beings to
make correct ethical decisions.
This negative view of cynicism comes
out of the traditional Cynic theme of eschewing wealth and property.
In an era where capitalism is a controlling factor in global society,
this ethical dilemma of virtue versus wealth is stark. However, the
positive Cynic theme of fostering happiness through training and growth has
been mostly forgotten.
