The Most Misunderstood Philosopher of All Time | Diogenes Expert Inger Kuin

The Daily Stoic

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Education, 694393, Daily Stoic, Society & Culture, Stoic, Stoicism, Self-improvement, Business, Stoic Philosophy, Philosophy, Ryan Holiday

4.6 • 4.7K Ratings

🗓️ 19 November 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Diogenes wasn’t a Stoic… but without him, the Stoics don’t exist. His life was so bold, so uncompromising, and so brutally honest that it reshaped the entire philosophical world the Stoics inherited. In today’s episode, Ryan sits down with classicist Inger Kuin to unpack the wild and brilliant philosophy of Diogenes, the original cynic.

Inger Kuin is a researcher, writer, and teacher focused on the intellectual history of ancient Greece and Rome. She is Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Virginia. Originally from The Netherlands, she publishes both in English and in Dutch. Be sure to pick up a copy of Inger’s new book Diogenes: The Rebellious Life and Revolutionary Philosophy of the Original Cynic.

Check out Inger’s website: https://ingerkuin.com/

📚 If you’re interested in learning more about Diogenes and Cynicism, check out these books:

The Cynic Philosophers: From Diogenes to Julian

How to Say No: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Cynicism

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Transcript

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	...

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