English Original
A Dog's Life: The Origins of Cynicism
The term "Cynicism" originates from the ancient Greek Cynic philosophers. Disillusioned with the world, they advocated a return to a simple, natural life, which their contemporaries mocked as "living like dogs." The word stems from the Greek kynikos, meaning "dog-like." This root cyn- appears in related words:
- cynology: the study of dogs
- cynodont: canine tooth
- cynosure: the center of attention (literally "dog's tail," referring to the constellation Ursa Minor and the North Star)
- cynic: a person who believes people are motivated purely by self-interest
- cynical: distrustful of human sincerity or integrity
The founder, Antisthenes, a student of Socrates, rejected material possessions and social conventions, preaching a philosophy of "return to nature." His most famous disciple, Diogenes, took this to an extreme, famously living in a large jar and begging for food. When Alexander the Great offered him anything he desired, Diogenes replied, "Stand out of my sunlight."
Over time, the philosophy evolved. By the 3rd century BC, Cynicism was widespread but had softened, advocating not complete rejection of worldly goods but a degree of indifference. This shift is how "cynical" acquired its modern meaning of a scornful, pessimistic distrust of others' motives.
Dog-Related Idioms in English
Understanding cultural context is key to language learning. Western attitudes toward dogs are generally positive, viewing them as "man's best friend." This is reflected in several common idioms:
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Every dog has his day.
- Meaning: Everyone will have a period of success or good fortune eventually.
- Origin: Traced to the 5th-century BC Greek poet Pindar. The phrase suggests that even the lowly ("dogs") will have their moment.
- Chinese Equivalent: 风水轮流转。
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Dog days
- Meaning: The hottest, most sultry period of summer, typically July and August.
- Origin: The ancient Romans associated this period with the Dog Star, Sirius (Canicula), which rose and set with the sun.
- Chinese Equivalent: 三伏天。
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Doggie bag
- Meaning: A bag for leftover food from a restaurant, ostensibly to take home for one's dog.
- Usage: A polite fiction to avoid appearing frugal. One might say, "Could I get a doggie bag for this?"
Vocabulary Review
- cynicism /ˈsɪnɪsɪzəm/ n.: 1. The beliefs of the Cynics. 2. An attitude of scornful, jaded negativity.
- cynical /ˈsɪnɪkəl/ adj.: Believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful.
- cynosure /ˈsɪnəʒʊr/ n.: A center of attention or admiration.
- canicular /kəˈnɪkjələr/ adj.: Relating to the dog days or the Dog Star.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word (cynical, cynic, cynicism).
1. She is getting more __ about life.
2. That the equipment of modern camping becomes yearly more sophisticated is an entertaining paradox for the _.
3. The public ___ aroused by governmental scandals.
Answers:
1. cynical
2. cynic
3. cynicism
中文翻译
像狗一样的生活：犬儒主义的起源
“犬儒主义”（Cynicism）一词源自古希腊的犬儒学派哲学家。他们对世界感到幻灭，因此倡导回归简单自然的生活，同时代的人嘲笑他们“像狗一样生活”。该词源于希腊语 kynikos，意为“像狗的”。词根 cyn- 出现在以下相关词汇中：
- cynology: 犬类学
- cynodont: 犬齿
- cynosure: 焦点，引人注目的人/物（字面意思“狗的尾巴”，指小熊座和北极星）
- cynic: 愤世嫉俗者，认为人皆自私的人
- cynical: 愤世嫉俗的，怀疑他人真诚的
其创始人安提斯泰尼是苏格拉底的学生，他摒弃物质财富和社会习俗，宣扬“回归自然”的哲学。他最著名的弟子第欧根尼将这一点发挥到极致， famously 住在一个大瓮里并以乞讨为生。当亚历山大大帝问他想要什么时，第欧根尼回答：“请不要挡住我的阳光。”
随着时间的推移，这一哲学思想发生了演变。到了公元前三世纪，犬儒主义广为流传但已趋于温和，它倡导的不是完全摒弃世俗财物，而是一种程度的漠不关心。正是这种转变，让“cynical”获得了其现代的涵义——对他人动机充满轻蔑、悲观的怀疑。
英语中与狗相关的习语
理解文化背景是语言学习的关键。西方对狗的态度普遍积极，视其为“人类最好的朋友”。这体现在以下几个常见习语中：
-
Every dog has his day.
- 含义： 人人皆有得意时。
- 起源： 可追溯至公元前五世纪的希腊诗人品达。这个短语暗示即使卑微者（“狗”）也会有风光时刻。
- 中文对应： 风水轮流转。
-
Dog days
- 含义： 夏季最炎热、闷湿的时期，通常在七八月。
- 起源： 古罗马人将这段时期与天狼星（Canicula，意为“小狗”）联系起来，此时天狼星与太阳同升同落。
- 中文对应： 三伏天。
-
Doggie bag
- 含义： 餐馆提供的用于打包剩菜的袋子，表面上是带回家给狗吃的。
- 用法： 一种为避免显得吝啬的礼貌托辞。人们可能会说：“能给我个袋子打包这个吗？”
词汇回顾
- cynicism /ˈsɪnɪsɪzəm/ 名词: 1. 犬儒主义者的信条。 2. 愤世嫉俗、冷嘲热讽的态度。
- cynical /ˈsɪnɪkəl/ 形容词: 愤世嫉俗的，认为人皆自私的。
- cynosure /ˈsɪnəʒʊr/ 名词: 焦点，引人注目的人或物。
- canicular /kəˈnɪkjələr/ 形容词: 与三伏天或天狼星有关的。
练习
用适当的词（cynical, cynic, cynicism）填空。
1. 她变得对生活更加 __。
2. 现代露营装备变得一年比一年更讲究，这对那些 _ 来说是一件有趣的自相矛盾的事情。
3. 政府丑闻引起公众的 ___。
答案：
1. cynical
2. cynic
3. cynicism