_Care of the Self: Ancient Problematizations of Life and Contemporary Thought_, by Lívia Flachbartová, Pavol Sucharek, and Vladislav Suvák, focus on different manifestations of “taking care of the self” present in ancient and contemporary thought.

The paper examines the relationship between ancient Cynicism and his modern counterpart – cynicism. Ancient Cynicism is a strictly ethical way of life, while modern cynicism despises all ethical values. Ancient Cynicism is said to be a „shortest way to virtue“ and characterized by its commitment to a life in agreement with nature, radical freedom, self-sufficiency and by the absence of philosophical theory in favour of practical, lived philosophy. Modern cynicism is a result of a long lasting history of interpreting (...) and misunderstanding of ancient Cynicism . However, cynicism is the consequence of „the unfulfilled promises“ of Enlightenment. It is a reason which turned against reason itself. The paper offers a brief history of the reception of Cynicism on its way toward the modern cynicism. (shrink)