Relevance of Ancient Greek cynicism to contemporary world

Prof. Vytis Valatka (Universidade da Lituania)
9 e 10 ABR 2019
Event poster and schedule

Relevance of Ancient Greek cynicism to contemporary world

Prof. Vytis Valatka (Universidade da Lituania)

 

9 e 10 de abril

Sala 115 [9/ABR]
Sala 10 [10/ABR]

14H00

This part of the course analyses the most important and interesting aspects of the Ancient Greek Cynicism: diagnosis of the main disease of the classic Hellenic civilization and prescribed medicine for that malignant malady. Such an analysis also deals with relevance of that medicine to the modern form of above mentioned malady.

According to Cynics, civilization annihilates radical temperance – the main feature and essential virtue of human nature. Furthermore, civilization replaces temperance with surplus of pleasures, regarded as the state of dangerous disease. According to Cynics, there is only one remedy for this disease, namely, the return to the natural radical temperance. The only way leading to that is askesis, i.e. practice for both body and soul.

The hunting for  pleasures is also an evident feature of contemporary civilization sunken in consumption. The qualities of this civilization turn radical temperance of Cynicism into a too bitter tablet for the unduly squeamish stomach of a contemporary man. Meanwhile, considerably milder form of temperance could become a contemporary means of prophylaxis. Similarly, askesis deprived of its radical dimension could become one of the possible ways to achieve the above mentioned sense of proportion.

Organização
Prof. Vladimir Safatle
Local
Salas 115 e 10
Endereço
Conjunto Didático de Filosofia e Ciências Sociais, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 315 - Cidade Universitária, São Paulo - SP