The times of oral tradition brought two forms of cynicism. These forms came from Greece and Rome. In Greece, the ideal cynic, as described be Epictetus was a man who was “separated from God” and “obliterates yearnings”. A Cynic must have turned their tendencies toward moral considerations alone. They should not have ever felt warmth, anger, envy, or pity. They also weren’t supposed to find any woman desirable. Essentially what Epictetus idealized as the perfect Cynic philosopher was someone who was willing to end all desires. Epictetus believed that they should only live off of what was essential for living, no more than that. As a scout the Cynic philosopher was responsible for “spying” and figuring out what is harmful and what is beneficial to men. As it relates to God, the Cynics looked to him for counsel. Epictetus also brought up the ideas of Greek gods multiple times which makes it confusing whether they were monotheistic or polytheistic.

Demonax seemed to have many of the same ideals as Epictetus. Although Demonax came from a wealthy and reputable home, he gave it all up because those blessing were “illusory and brief” (154). Demonax believed in the same main ideas of the Cynics like living a simple life (only using the necessities to live, figuring out what is good and bad for mankind, and living life only focusing on his moral compass. In those three was the Cynics were practically identical. Where they were different was, to be frank, in passing people off. It is written on page 161 of Demonax that at the time of his death he was revered and loved by many. The Cynics believed more in being social outcasts and going against whatever the norm was.

I see many similarities between Epictetus, the Demonax, and the Gospels’ depiction of Jesus. Nearly his entire life Jesus is portrayed as a teacher. Early on in one of the Gospels he is even teaching in the temple when he is just a kid still. Jesus preached about how it was unnecessary to show your wealth or to even be wealthy in general. Both Demonax and the Cynics gave up all of their belongings in order to live a simpler life, just like Jesus taught. Just like Jesus, Demonax forgave sinners, bringing up the example of doctors who, “heal sickness but do not get angry with the sick. I think Demonax lived the most similarly with Jesus although there were many parallels with Cynics as well.