Can Cynicism be Healthy?

Here we go with the second installment of the Tommy Housworth recommended posts. If you missed the first one, read it here. There are a couple of things that went through my head when he posed the question, "Can Cynicism Be Healthy?" First, was 'Sure!'

I am of firm belief that everything is good in moderation. Well, not violence, but why not a healthy bit of cynicism? But then I thought 'can being a cynic bring unneeded negativity?' And that's when I realized that we needed to take a step back. Heck, who am I kidding? I needed explore and better understand what cynicism was.

That's when I saw there are TWO schools of thought on cynicism. One is the ancient philosophical and the second is the modern view. Strict definitions did not seem full enough, so here's what Wikipedia says about the one created by Socrates' pupil Antisthenes:

Cynicism in its original form, refers to the beliefs of an ancient school of Greek philosophers known as the Cynics. Their philosophy was that the purpose of life was to live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature. This meant rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, sex and fame, and by living a simple life free of all possessions. 

So these toga wearin' Cynics were all over Greece begging in the streets in the 1st Century, but by the 5th Century cynicism seemed to fade away or perhaps get picked up in part by Christianity. However, by time we hit the 18th Century, things shifted. A new view of cynicism emerged. Back to Wikipedia and the more modern entry.

Cynicism is an attitude or state of mind characterized by a general distrust of others' apparent motives or ambitions. A general lack of faith or hope in the human race or in individuals with desires, hopes, opinions, or personal tastes that a cynic perceives as unrealistic or inappropriate, therefore deserving of ridicule or admonishment. It's a form of jaded negativity, and other times, realistic criticism or skepticism.

So, somewhere down the line we did a 180. It seems like the ideas of simplicity and piety became lost when someone asked the question, 'why bother?' Life became more complex as machinery improved and was more widespread. There were more options, but that didn't make things BETTER. Cities grew and travel was a possibility even for the lowest class. Our world grew smaller, but our world view increased. Many may have thought that they had to have money and power to get ahead or get away. And even with that view, life was still difficult. Living without was just as difficult as the struggle to live with. But this is all conjecture. I go by instinct and a bit of research. It makes sense, though, does it not?

So, in the 21st century, cynicism is pretty much the same as it's been for the last few hundred years. Or perhaps the contemporary definition is more modern than I realize. Either way, it leads us back to the original question. Can this cynicism be healthy?

I'm sticking with my original opinion and say 'yes.' And that's to both the ancient and the modern views. I think it's healthy to let of go things we may not need. Materialism and commercialism run rampant in our society. Do we need SOME? Absolutely. We all have bills to pay and should be able to satisfy our desire for a little luxury and splurging from time to time. But do we need LOTS? No. Lots makes it hard to organize, keep things clean, be efficient with time and space. Ambition can be a good thing, but it's wise to keep it in check with your general happiness.

The modern view is a bit harder to connect. As a New Yorker moving to Atlanta many years ago, I wondered why everyone was so nice. I was sure they wanted something of me. But that was not often true. Is it smart to question? Absolutely. Is it healthy to assume that everyone is out to get you? No way. In our culture where information is at our fingertips we forget the power of faith and hope. There is something to be said for the wonder of the unknown and bothering to care about something just beause it feels right. So, allow the skepticism to manifest, but then check in with your gut - your instincts - before making the best decision for you and letting it go.

What are your thoughts on cynicism? Do you consider yourself a cynic? How does it help or hinder? Please share your comments below.