Ancient cynicism: between authenticity and counterfeiting

As the founding principle of the philosophical experience of cynicism, the debasement of Sinope's currency by Diogenes and (or) his father placed Cynic philosophy under the sign of a new minting of customs and values, counterfeiting becoming the guarantee of authenticity for the practice of philosophy. To achieve this counterfeiting, Cynics advocated a specific method - physical asceticism with a moral purpose - and they chose a symbol - their way of dressing - which in the course of centuries finally tended to wear out. There were even impostors who displayed the proper garment, bag and stick, but did not practice asceticism. However, this outfit achieved great success as the became the symbol of both the philosopher and the monk. Among philosophers as among literate people, Cynic counterfeiting triggered the most varied reactions: from admiration to mockery, from idealisation to condemnation. Obviously, the new minting of the Cynic currency questioned the Stoics as well as the Christians, a man of letters like Lucian as well as a man of power and culture like Julian. Cynicism has successfully demonstrated - as evidenced by its reception until the contemporary period - the legitimacy of the concept of popular philosophy.