I've been accused (once again) of being a cynic. This being Valentine's Day, I couldn't help but make some observations about commercialism rampant and the fact that much of the gift giving (and receiving) is hype. A play on the emotions for commercial profit, of course these comments (and more - I must admit I was having fun insulting the trinkets and the fluff and the flowers and the sweets) drew some flak from those who were laden with the bounties of Valentine's Day.
"You're a cynic!""You're just sore that you didn't get anything for Valentine's Day!" (Done with much waving of fuzzy flowers in my face)"You're mean!"
If you told me "Happy Valentine's Day" and I said "I don't believe in Valentine's Day", where does that leave the conversation? Is it not an attempt, and invitation to examine the social conventions that mark this Feb the 14th? Is any occassion "beyond" the marking of convention? So being called a cynic in my face, I will explore that mode of existence:
Little known fact I suppose, by people that call others "cynical", as if it were a term of derision - the Cynics were an important philosophical school of Ancient Greece. Diogenes (320 BC), a key philosopher of this school, believed that stoic simplicity was crucial in battling the luxuries that he found his frivolous age enamoured with. He not only held a disregard for luxury but had a disregard for convention as well. Traditional laws and social organisations he felt, were props which man could do without. He sought to show that man could live free from these externalities. Crates, a pupil of Diogenes', made it his mission to castigate vice and pretense. He wrote satires which exposed the philosophical pretenses of other treatises. All in all, a cynical view seeks to expose in order to get at truth.
I've never pegged myself a cynic. It's too awesome and unpopular a role. To dare to speak your mind in the face of overwhelming opposition is both admirable and scary. But when confronted with blatant injustices, imbalances or just plain silliness of our existence, surely some kind of utterance, in the name of approaching truth, must be made. I understand the attraction of redeeming illusions, having lived under many in my time, but at least let those illusions you cling to be redeeming.
I also think my criticism (rather than cynicism) is often directed at situations or figures of authority. I tend to believe the best of the underdog but am always highly suspicious of persons in positions of power. Which is perhaps why, as a teacher, I've abnegated much of the power and authority that the role should possess. My cynicism, in a sense, bites back. But that in part, is living as you believe.
But cynicism is selective isn't it? The wonderful thing about attitudes is that we choose rather arbitrarily to apply them, with force or for enjoyment's sake. It isn't a creed but a tremendous critical resource that can be called up to maintain your sense of individuality. It is precisely the arbitrary application of any critque, the angularity of thought perhaps, that strives towards the preservation of the self.
So there's no crusading on the part of this cynic (if you insist on calling him that) and I'm sure that there are many people out there who are much more cynical than I am, about a host of things that I believe naively in (such as the belief that ppl really love to write GP essays!).
So if you said "Happy Valentine's Day", I'd still tell you that I don't believe in it - an invitation of course for further conversation ...
"You're a cynic!""You're just sore that you didn't get anything for Valentine's Day!" (Done with much waving of fuzzy flowers in my face)"You're mean!"
If you told me "Happy Valentine's Day" and I said "I don't believe in Valentine's Day", where does that leave the conversation? Is it not an attempt, and invitation to examine the social conventions that mark this Feb the 14th? Is any occassion "beyond" the marking of convention? So being called a cynic in my face, I will explore that mode of existence:
Little known fact I suppose, by people that call others "cynical", as if it were a term of derision - the Cynics were an important philosophical school of Ancient Greece. Diogenes (320 BC), a key philosopher of this school, believed that stoic simplicity was crucial in battling the luxuries that he found his frivolous age enamoured with. He not only held a disregard for luxury but had a disregard for convention as well. Traditional laws and social organisations he felt, were props which man could do without. He sought to show that man could live free from these externalities. Crates, a pupil of Diogenes', made it his mission to castigate vice and pretense. He wrote satires which exposed the philosophical pretenses of other treatises. All in all, a cynical view seeks to expose in order to get at truth.
I've never pegged myself a cynic. It's too awesome and unpopular a role. To dare to speak your mind in the face of overwhelming opposition is both admirable and scary. But when confronted with blatant injustices, imbalances or just plain silliness of our existence, surely some kind of utterance, in the name of approaching truth, must be made. I understand the attraction of redeeming illusions, having lived under many in my time, but at least let those illusions you cling to be redeeming.
I also think my criticism (rather than cynicism) is often directed at situations or figures of authority. I tend to believe the best of the underdog but am always highly suspicious of persons in positions of power. Which is perhaps why, as a teacher, I've abnegated much of the power and authority that the role should possess. My cynicism, in a sense, bites back. But that in part, is living as you believe.
But cynicism is selective isn't it? The wonderful thing about attitudes is that we choose rather arbitrarily to apply them, with force or for enjoyment's sake. It isn't a creed but a tremendous critical resource that can be called up to maintain your sense of individuality. It is precisely the arbitrary application of any critque, the angularity of thought perhaps, that strives towards the preservation of the self.
So there's no crusading on the part of this cynic (if you insist on calling him that) and I'm sure that there are many people out there who are much more cynical than I am, about a host of things that I believe naively in (such as the belief that ppl really love to write GP essays!).
So if you said "Happy Valentine's Day", I'd still tell you that I don't believe in it - an invitation of course for further conversation ...
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