The legends that have developed around famous personalities show how little humanity there is in the world. Alexander the Great, the conqueror of the ancient world, and the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope were contemporaries who lived simultaneously (Bryan Lueck). One wanted to rule the world and conquered it; the other, on the contrary, fled from the world. But, despite this, several memorable and instructive meetings took place between them-parables, the initiator of which was, as always, Alexander. It is widely accepted that great people feel each other and are drawn to each other.
The Diogenes of Sinope and Alexander the Great meeting is one of the most debated anecdotes in the history of philosophy. There are many versions of it; yet, the most popular consider this evidence of Diogenes ‘ disregard for power, wealth, and decency. Diogenes was one of the most eminent philosophers of Greek who promoted the principles of virtue and self-control (Bryan Lueck). He was the son of an exile and had to lead a life in isolation from others. Diogenes led a unique hermit lifestyle – he lived in a large empty barrel. He merely wanted to escape from his surroundings which he thought of as vulgar and extravagant. Diogenes put his philosophical research into practice, fearlessly rushing to the latest extremes, daily surprising the world with his quirks.
The philosophy of Diogenes was based on asceticism, rejection of all the advantages of existence. Diogenes did not recognize states, politicians, religion, and priests and considered himself a cosmopolitan-a citizen of the world (Bryan Lueck). During a discussion with Alexander the Great, the philosopher called himself a dog to show that a human being can be insignificant (Everitt). One day, several townspeople threw him a bone like a dog and wanted to force him to gnaw it.
On the other hand, it may be observed that Alexander the Great is the complete opposite of Diogenes based on their perception of life. He was ardent and full of desire to perform various feats. The main character traits the great ruler adopted from his mother, Olympias of Epirus (Everitt). The ruler was fascinated by everything strange and unusual, did not know how to deceive and pretend, was very honest in his battles; he never stole a victory by stealth but won in equal fighting. He did not hide behind the backs of his soldiers during the war, permanently stimulating their courage and discipline by his actions.
In addition to the qualities of Alexander the Great, his actions also speak well about his personality. They show extraordinary willpower and excellent education. The activity of this great commander occupies a special place in the history of the ancient world and of all humankind. Everyone remembered him as a competent politician and strategist who did not lose a single battle. Sometimes he was arrogant and adored his power and leadership. It is not surprising that this great man also loved luxury since he was born into it. Alexander the Great was cruel, but he would not have conquered such a large number of territories without this.
In summary, Alexander the Great and Diogenes had utterly different lives: one was born in poverty and solitude, the other was born in luxury and was destined to rule. They were opposite in their views on life; yet, the one trait that united them was their broad thinking. These great people are often contradicted to each other, but their aspiration to change the world makes them similar.
Works Cited
Bryan Lueck, Lueck. Obligation and the Fact of SenseEdinburgh University Press, 2018.
Everitt, Anthony. Alexander the Great: His Life and His Mysterious Death. Random House Publishing Group, 2019.