Book 1: Chapter 26, Cynics and Sceptics Summary and Analysis

Intellectually eminent men differed at different times. They were in harmony at certain times, revolutionary or despaired at other times. Different men adopted different attitudes. In this way Goethe felt comfort, Bentham was a reformer, while Shelly had revolutionary views.

During the ecclesiastical domination after the fifth century beliefs and feelings clashed. The world was tormented by further developments and writers were influenced by the Church. The Hellenistic period led to Christianity through the decline of the City State. Greek philosophers moved away from politics and became concerned with individual virtue or salvation. They tried to devise ways to be happy in the world of suffering. There were four schools of philosophy established before Alexander, such as the Stoics, the Epicureans, the Cynics and Sceptics.

The first schools were established through Diogenes from...