Cynicism (contemporary)

Uncommon card · No. 124724

Cynicism is an attitude characterized by a general distrust of the motives of others and a lack of faith in other human beings, in the belief that humans are selfish by nature. A cynic may have a general lack of faith or hope in humanity in general or in people motivated by ambition, desire, greed, gratification, materialism, change, goals, and opinions that a cynic perceives as vain, unobtainable, or ultimately meaningless. The term originally derives from the ancient Greek philosophers, the Cynics, who rejected conventional goals of wealth, power, fame, and honor. They practiced shameless nonconformity with social norms in religion, morality, law, manners, housing, dress, or decency, instead advocating the pursuit of virtue in accordance with a simple and natural way of life. By the 19th century, emphasis on the ascetic ideals and the critique of current civilization based on how it might fall short of an ideal civilization or negativistic aspects of Cynic philosophy led the modern understanding...

Read on Wikipedia