Abstract

Cynicism is generally considered anathema to democratic politics. This essay argues that it is a potential wellspring of constructive distrust. Diogenes of Sinope, the fountainhead of Cynic philosophy, is recollected as a means for recuperating cynicism as an attitude, and thus a mode of civic being, rather than simply a social condition. Particular attention is paid to the liberatory promise of the Cynic exercises of parrhesia (truth-telling), askesis (training), and ponos (hard work), as well as the use of chreiai (anecdotes) as critical rhetorical devices, in order to approach a more charitable and humane politics. Street and graffiti artist, Banksy, is situated as an important figure of contemporary cynic citizenship.