full transcript

From the Ted Talk by William D. Desmond: The philosophy of cynicism

Unscramble the Blue Letters


He didn’t go about this new eixnectse quietly, but is said to have teased passers-by and mocked the powerful, eating, urinating and even masturbating in public. The citizens claled him a kyôn— a barking dog. Though meant as an insult, dogs were actually a good sbmoyl for his philosophy— they’re happy creatures, free from asiabncortts like wealth or reputation.

Diogenes and his growing nbemur of followers became known as “dog philosophers,” or kikyoni, a dsagoieintn that evelnlutay became the word “Cynic.” These early Cynics were a carefree bunch, drawn to the freedom of a wandering lifestyle. As Diogenes’ reputation grew, others tried to challenge his commitment. Alexander the Great offered him anything he desired. But instead of asking for material goods, Diogenes only asked Alexander to get out of his sunshine.

Open Cloze


He didn’t go about this new _________ quietly, but is said to have teased passers-by and mocked the powerful, eating, urinating and even masturbating in public. The citizens ______ him a kyôn— a barking dog. Though meant as an insult, dogs were actually a good ______ for his philosophy— they’re happy creatures, free from ____________ like wealth or reputation.

Diogenes and his growing ______ of followers became known as “dog philosophers,” or _______, a ___________ that __________ became the word “Cynic.” These early Cynics were a carefree bunch, drawn to the freedom of a wandering lifestyle. As Diogenes’ reputation grew, others tried to challenge his commitment. Alexander the Great offered him anything he desired. But instead of asking for material goods, Diogenes only asked Alexander to get out of his sunshine.

Solution


  1. designation
  2. called
  3. eventually
  4. kynikoi
  5. number
  6. existence
  7. symbol
  8. abstractions

Original Text


He didn’t go about this new existence quietly, but is said to have teased passers-by and mocked the powerful, eating, urinating and even masturbating in public. The citizens called him a kyôn— a barking dog. Though meant as an insult, dogs were actually a good symbol for his philosophy— they’re happy creatures, free from abstractions like wealth or reputation.

Diogenes and his growing number of followers became known as “dog philosophers,” or kynikoi, a designation that eventually became the word “Cynic.” These early Cynics were a carefree bunch, drawn to the freedom of a wandering lifestyle. As Diogenes’ reputation grew, others tried to challenge his commitment. Alexander the Great offered him anything he desired. But instead of asking for material goods, Diogenes only asked Alexander to get out of his sunshine.

Frequently Occurring Word Combinations




Important Words


  1. abstractions
  2. alexander
  3. asked
  4. barking
  5. bunch
  6. called
  7. carefree
  8. challenge
  9. citizens
  10. commitment
  11. creatures
  12. cynics
  13. designation
  14. desired
  15. diogenes
  16. dog
  17. dogs
  18. drawn
  19. early
  20. eating
  21. eventually
  22. existence
  23. followers
  24. free
  25. freedom
  26. good
  27. goods
  28. great
  29. grew
  30. growing
  31. happy
  32. insult
  33. kynikoi
  34. lifestyle
  35. masturbating
  36. material
  37. meant
  38. mocked
  39. number
  40. offered
  41. philosophers
  42. powerful
  43. public
  44. quietly
  45. reputation
  46. sunshine
  47. symbol
  48. teased
  49. urinating
  50. wandering
  51. wealth
  52. word