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Single Idea 1763

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature ]

Full Idea

Plato defined man as a two-footed featherless animal, so Diogenes plucked a cock and brought it into the school, and said, 'This is Plato's man'.

Gist of Idea

Diogenes said a plucked chicken fits Plato's definition of man

Source

report of Diogenes (Sin) (reports [c.360 BCE]) by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 06.Di.6

Book Ref

Diogenes Laertius: 'Diogenes Laertius', ed/tr. Yonge,C.D. [Henry G. Bohn 1853], p.231


A Reaction

You have to be very serious about your philosophy to enact your counterexamples, rather than just suggest them. Which university will actually reconstruct the Trolley Problem?


The 9 ideas from 'reports'

Diogenes said avoidance of philosophy is the lack of a desire to live properly [Diogenes of Sin., by Diog. Laertius]
When someone denied motion, Diogenes got up and walked away [Diogenes of Sin., by Diog. Laertius]
Cynicism was open to anyone, and needed neither education nor sophistication [Diogenes of Sin., by Grayling]
Diogenes said a plucked chicken fits Plato's definition of man [Diogenes of Sin., by Diog. Laertius]
The Cynics rejected what is conventional as irrational, and aimed to live by nature [Taylor,R on Diogenes of Sin.]
For peace of mind, you need self-government, indifference and independence [Diogenes of Sin.]
Diogenes said he was a citizen of the world [Diogenes of Sin., by Diog. Laertius]
Diogenes masturbated in public, wishing he could get rid of hunger so easily [Diogenes of Sin., by Plutarch]
Diogenes said that the most excellent thing among men was freedom of speech [Diogenes of Sin., by Diog. Laertius]