Difference between revisions of "Cynicism"
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:Nowadays the word generally describes, somewhat pejoratively, the opinions of those inclined to disbelieve in human sincerity, in virtue, or in altruism: individuals who maintain that only self-interest motivates human behavior. A modern cynic typically has a highly contemptuous attitude towards social norms, especially those which serve more of a ritualistic purpose than a practical one, and will tend to dismiss a substantial proportion of popular beliefs, conventional morality and accepted wisdom as "bullshit". | :Nowadays the word generally describes, somewhat pejoratively, the opinions of those inclined to disbelieve in human sincerity, in virtue, or in altruism: individuals who maintain that only self-interest motivates human behavior. A modern cynic typically has a highly contemptuous attitude towards social norms, especially those which serve more of a ritualistic purpose than a practical one, and will tend to dismiss a substantial proportion of popular beliefs, conventional morality and accepted wisdom as "bullshit". | ||
− | This attitude is prevalent at the Missouri Academy, for a variety of reasons. It's affects can be found here, in this wiki, and elsewhere in, say, student websites. | + | This attitude is prevalent at the Missouri Academy, for a variety of reasons. It's affects can be found here, in this wiki, and elsewhere in, say, [[student websites]]. |
Latest revision as of 00:02, 27 December 2004
According to the Wikipedia
- Cynicism was originally the philosophy of a group of ancient Greeks called the Cynics, founded by Antisthenes.
- Nowadays the word generally describes, somewhat pejoratively, the opinions of those inclined to disbelieve in human sincerity, in virtue, or in altruism: individuals who maintain that only self-interest motivates human behavior. A modern cynic typically has a highly contemptuous attitude towards social norms, especially those which serve more of a ritualistic purpose than a practical one, and will tend to dismiss a substantial proportion of popular beliefs, conventional morality and accepted wisdom as "bullshit".
This attitude is prevalent at the Missouri Academy, for a variety of reasons. It's affects can be found here, in this wiki, and elsewhere in, say, student websites.