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Cynics were ancient Greek philosophers who believed that happiness came from giving away one's possessions and keeping one's needs to a minimum.  That way someone could keep his independence and attain happiness.  The Cynics also rejected socially accepted behavior, from the English word "cynicism" derives.

Cynics were ancient [[Greek philosophers]] who believed that happiness came from giving away one's possessions and keeping one's needs to a minimum.  That way someone could keep his independence and attain happiness.  The Cynics also rejected socially accepted behavior, from the English word "cynicism" derives.

[[Diogenes]] is credited with founding this philosophy, but some historians think the real founder was the teacher of Diogenes, who was [[Antisthenes]] of Athens.

[[Diogenes]] is credited with founding this philosophy, but some historians think the real founder was the teacher of Diogenes, who was [[Antisthenes]] of Athens.

Cynics were also known as "beggar-philosophers" because they could be seen with merely a knapsack on their backs and walking sticks in their hands.  There were many of them in the 3rd century B.C., and there was a revival of them in the first century A.D.  By the end of the 5th century A.D. they had all disappeared.

Cynics were also known as "beggar-philosophers" because they could be seen with merely a knapsack on their backs and walking sticks in their hands.  There were many of them in the 3rd century B.C., and there was a revival of them in the first century A.D.  By the end of the 5th century A.D. they had all disappeared.