For the Cynics, life in accord with reason is lived in accord with nature, and therefore life in accord with reason is greater than the bounds of convention and the polis. Furthermore, the Cynics claim that such a life is the life worth living.
As a homeless and penniless exile, Diogenes experienced the greatest misfortunes of which the tragedians write, and yet he insisted that he lived the good life: “He claimed that to fortune he could oppose courage, to convention nature, to passion reason”
Man In Van from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.
Many people don't know this, but Jimmy once met the President of the United States, Barack Obama.
ReplyDeleteOne day, while Jimmy was outside of his van and laying in the sun, the President and his entourage who happened to be visiting the Manhattan, saw Jimmy laying on the sidewalk.
Being concerned about Jimmy's welfare, the President stopped and asked Jimmy if there was anything he could do for him. "Just name it, and it's yours" the President said.
Jimmy, not expecting a Presidential visit, looked up and said "Yes Mr. President, you could quit blocking my sunlight".
True story.
I wonder if it was Jimmy Tarangelo who inspired Diogenes of Brooklyn to embrace his more simplistic lifestyle?
ReplyDeleteNo, it was Oscar the Grouch.
DeleteIt seems as though there are a lot of people "choosing" to live in a van down by the river. According to Foster Huntington, Home Is Where You Park It.
ReplyDelete"In July 2011, I left my job in New York City, bought a VW Vanagon and hit the road. For the last two years, I've been put 80 thousand miles on my camper traveling around North America. Along the way, I've met fellow travelers exploring in campers of every shape and size. Their vehicles aren't the end-all-be-all's but enablers of lifestyles. Each one reflects their specific interests."