#Diogenes and alexander by gilbert highet free
While both Diogenes and Alexander lived free lives, Alexander must have been more content than Diogenes. Alexander was contented with his life, since only a truly free man could identify another free person, as seen when he indicated that if he were not himself, he would be like Diogenes. Alexander also laboured to help mankind, choosing to be at the forefront of battles, while he could easily sit back and let others fight.Īlexander had many responsibilities bestowed upon him, and through his education and training, he acquired enough knowledge to handle himself, and take care of his people. His followers were also a motivation factor to him, since they appreciated his doctrines, and Alexander acknowledged this when he took one of them as a philosophical interpreter. He was contented with his mission work, since he chose to continue instead of living a hidden life, away from the ignorant people, like others before him who had given up and isolated themselves from the people (Highet 8). He tirelessly taught his doctrines to those who chose to listen, in an effort to open the eyes of the people. He taught people that riches brought worries, since people spent more time and energy protecting what they had. His teaching emphasized that a free life had no conventions, complexities and extravagances. He emphasized a natural life, saying that it was normal and could not be evil or shameful. To expound on his doctrine, Diogenes wrote plays, poems and essays (Highet 8). While on the rich streets of Greece, he taught people his doctrines, and those who cared to listen followed him. Diogenes lived a life similar to that of dog, trying to influence people that they could live a natural and happy life. The two people are similar in that they fought for what they thought was right, in their own way. While Diogenes admired Hercules for his might and concern for other people, Alexander admired Archiles, who defeated the Asian armies. His choice of lifestyle, which involved battles, was an indication of his selflessness. He was also honourable, as could be seen in his self control, with both women and alcohol. He was skilled in many fields and was a great military commander. Alexander too, lived a contented life, at least according to the time of the story, at age twenty. He was knowledgeable in many fields including poetry, philosophy, scientific research and military, being termed a magnificent commander (Highet 9). He had been taught by the greatest mind in Greece at that time, Aristotle.
Alexander on the other hand had little choice of his upbringing, as he was the son of King Philip. According to Highet, Diogenes lived a contented life, since he could adopt and practise his teachings, without worrying about a family or work. Many people had lived the way he did, mainly the refugees, but he did so by choice, since his teachings emphasized that people should live a natural life, he chose to teach the people by example. He survived on borrowed food from the people. He had no furniture and slept in a cask that he moved everywhere with, and placed it where he wanted to sleep. We Will Write a Custom Essay Specifically
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