Please share your understanding of these two sentences in paragraph 17and try to analyze their correlation: (1) “If I were not Alexander, I should be Diogenes.” (2) “...of all men then alive in the world only Alexander the conqueror and Diogenes the beggar were free."
Alexander thought that he was free because he had absolute power and Diogenes was free because he didn't need any power. If a person like Alexander or Diogenes, they are not bound by anything. Alexander had supreme power, so no one dared to question him. Diogenes did not have a supreme position, but he never cared what others thought of him. So two of them are both 'free man'.
Alexander represented the extraordinary aristocrat, while Diogenes represented the ordinary man. So the first sentence means that we are either born extraordinary or we are ordinary people. But both ordinary people and the most extraordinary people are free. Alexander, because of his high position, had the power and freedom to dominate everything, while Diogenes lived as a beggar, nothing could bind him, and his spirit was free. Most people in the world are enslaved by material wealth, so they lose their spiritual freedom.
1. Alexander and Diogenes have many similarities. They all understand the ture meaning of Cynicism. They are all "a citizen of the world", meaning that they are individuals whose mission are to help mankind. That is to say, if Alexander had no absolute power or prestigious status, he would choose to become a person like Diogenes.
2. Alexander was free because he had absolute power while Diogenes was free because he cared nothing about conventions and adhered to what he thought was right.
1.Alexander is burdened with a great deal of responsibility and his power implies that he is not free if he is not so powerful he aspires to be like diogenes who is free and does not care about anything.2.Alexander is the ruler of greece and he has the supreme power not to worry about money and diogenes he doesn't care about anything and he's free to a certain extent.
1、Alexander and Diogenes had much in common, both professed to be "a citizens of the world," both understood the meaning of cynicism. They all think of themselves as free men.
2、Alexander has supreme power and wealth, no one can influence his choice, he can do whatever he wants, so he is free. Diogenes did not care about worldly vision and rules, but only pursued nature, so he was free.
1. As a king, Alexander knew how to govern and love his people. As a missionary and philosopher, Diogenes' aim was to spread doctrine. Diogenes' cynicism pursued the real value of life on the basis of giving up material desires. Although their status and circumstances are different, both understand what they want and pursue it.
2. Both Alexander and Diogenes share the same view of personal value, and both represent a kind of spiritual freedom. As a ruler, Alexander was free to pursue everything without being bound by the culture of chasing fame and prestige. Diogenes was the founder of cynicism, a man who lived with nothing but didn't care. So I think they're all free.
1.Alexander and Diogenes are both free and independent, believing in cynicism and striving for their own values and pursuits.
2.Alexander has powerful power, countless wealth, and the freedom to do what he wants. Diogenes has nothing and does not need anything, so he is also free.
1.Alexander and Diogenes were both philosophers, and they were both preaching their dogmas, trying to change people's minds, trying to help people,and they all want to live freely. I think their pursuits are similar to some extents.
2.Alexander was the monarch,he had the power,people worship him or fear him. He had the right that he can do anything he wanted. And Diogenes never cared about other people, he lived naturally, without conventions.
(1) Maybe Alexander admire Diogenes' s life style of living simply and naturally, he also wants to live like that if he were not a king.
(2)Alexander is free because he is the king, he possesses power, wealth and reputation and everyone respects him. Diogenes is free because he only want to live a simple and natural life without any desire so he can care about nothing and live freely.
1.They were all philosophers and shared the same beliefs, have the same aim.They all wanted to change people's lives. At the same time, Alexander understood Cynicism.If Alexander did not have absolute power, he would be like Diogenes.
2.Alexander thought that he was free because he had absolute power and Diogenes was free because he didn't need any power.
1. Alexander and Diogenes are great philosophers and both of them are "citizens of the world", who contribute to the development of humanity.
2. Alexander thought that he was free because he had absolute power. Diogenes was free because he didn't need any power and he lived without social conventions.
(1):Alexander could understand Diogenes in some ways. They all called themselves a "citizen of the world". And, they just don't change the world in the same way. A man stood at the top, to conquer and rule his realm; The other used his theories to teach by example, wandering the streets every day.
(2): Both of them are free in this world. Alexander, the conqueror, are free beacuse he had many power and money and did what he wanted to do. Diogenes, the beggar, didn't care about these material goods. He admired Cynicism. As a result, he was spiritually rich and had no ambiton to pursue material life.
1. Diogens and Alexander have a lot in common. They were the only two free people in the world. At the same time, they all worship Hercules and call themselves "citizens of the world." In this world, not for themselves, but for mankind to work. Alexander and Diogenes came from different backgrounds, but both were full of admiration for philosophical teachings.
2. Alexander had everything and could do whatever he wanted without being constrained. He is not trapped by matter, therefore it is free. And Diogens felt that nothing in the world could trap him, that he was independent. At the same time, the goal of both people is to strive for the sake of humanity, so both people are free.
1.Both Diogenes and Alexander are philosophers, they are spiritually free. Alexander can understand Diogenes in many ways. He thought he would be a cynic like Diogenes if he was not the conqueror.
2.Alexander was free because he was the conqueror of the realm, he owned a lot and can do many things that others could not do; Diogenes was free because he was the founder of the creed called Cynicism, he did not care about the social customs and discard complexities and extravagances, in spirit, he was free.
(1) Alexander, as a king,possessed unlimited wealth and power. He was the freest person and nobody can control him. He had the duty to manage the country. At the same time, he was a thinker and followed the synicism. He also pursue the true values of life. While Diogenes was a begger and the one founder of the synicism. So if Alexander wasn't himself, he would be a true psychologist like Diogenes.
(2) Alexander is a king, possess wealth and power.He is free and independent. Diogenes is a begger and have no use for power, only pursuing his goal that rebuild the value, so he is free.
As a conqueror, Alexander has everything, he has the supreme right to choose any way of life he likes. Although Diogenes is a beggar, he has no desires. He is able to live his life regardless of what other people think of him. They are free.
Alexander was respected by all, Diogenes did not care about anything. Both of them are capable of not caring what other people think of them. So only the two of them were truly free.
He understood Cynicism while others didn’t. He was what Diogenes called himself, a man whose mission is to help mankind. Like Diogenes, he admired the heroic figure of Hercules, who labored to help mankind while all others worked very hard for a long time only for themselves.
Alexander thought that he was free because he had absolute power and Diogenes was free because he didn’t need any power.
1、Alexander's inner thoughts were that if, from the moment he was born, he was not born into such a royal family and had no mission to conquer the land, but rather someone like Diogenes, then perhaps his actions would also be similar to those of Diogenes.
2、Because Alexander was free in material terms, such as power,wealth and so on. While Diogenes was free in spiritual terms.
(1)If Alexander didn't own the superior power and money, he would be the same as Diogenes because of their similiar interest in philosophy and the desire to the freedom. They are all the citizens of the world.
(2)Alexander had the superior power and money, so he could do anything he wanted to do.
Diogenes had nothing to lose, so he could do anything he wanted to do too.
1. It is clear that Alexander and Diogenes are two opposite extremes. Alexander was not only a monarch, but also a great philosopher. His duty and mission was not merely to conquer the land, but to rebuild the new environment, the new kingdom, in his own way. He has to think about a lot of things and has supreme power. Diogenes had no rights, nor did he think of anything, he was merely rough and savage to live. His ministry is simple, he strives to apply his teachings or power to those who are willing to change and become a whole person.
2. Anyone who truly lives in this world must be an independent, complete person. Alexander had supreme power, and he was independent in all aspects of spirit, wealth, etc. (especially wealth). Diogenes does not have absolute power, but when others are busy with money and power, he is not bound by power and money, he does not pursue a luxurious life, he is not bound by external things, his spiritual world is very full, he is also independent and free.
Because Alexander and Diogenes are similar in many ways, although they have great differences in class and status.
First of all, on the spiritual level, there is no doubt that they have similar freedom: Alexander, as a monarch, his thinking is rarely questioned, and Diogenes, as a beggar, almost no one cares what he thinks, so they have freedom on the intellectual level.
Second, Alexander and Diogenes had similar freedom on the behavioral level. Alexander had absolute authority, and of course no one dared to speak against him. Diogenes, on the other hand, did not care what other people thought, so his actions were not limited.
So, in a sense, they were free men, and in a free sense, Alexander was Diogenes, if not a monarch
Because Alexander and Diogenes are similar in many ways, although they have great differences in class and status.
First of all, on the spiritual level, there is no doubt that they have similar freedom: Alexander, as a monarch, his thinking is rarely questioned, and Diogenes, as a beggar, almost no one cares what he thinks, so they have freedom on the intellectual level.
Second, Alexander and Diogenes had similar freedom on the behavioral level. Alexander had absolute authority, and of course no one dared to speak against him. Diogenes, on the other hand, did not care what other people thought, so his actions were not limited.
So, in a sense, they were free men, and in a free sense, Alexander was Diogenes, if not a monarch
1. Alexander seems to express admiration for Diogenes, the philosopher known for his unconventional lifestyle. It suggests that if Alexander were not a great ruler, he would aspire to live as simply and independently as Diogenes did. It implies a respect for Diogenes' philosophical values and way of life.
2. among all the people alive during that time, only Alexander the Great, known for his conquests, and Diogenes, recognized for his rejection of material possessions and societal norms, were considered truly free. This highlights the idea that freedom isn't about one's status or possessions, but rather about a state of mind or a way of living that transcends societal expectations or limitations. Both Alexander and Diogenes, despite their different lives, were perceived as embodying this sense of freedom.
correlation:these statements suggest that both Alexander and Diogenes, despite their different societal statuses, were viewed as individuals who lived in accordance with their own values and principles, and thus were considered free in their own ways.
1)Diogenes was unfettered by reality,and he was a greater thinker. Alexander,who was a conqueror, admired Diogenes' knowledge and thoughts. If he was not born to be a monarch,he would like to be a man like Diogenes.
2)To Diogenes,he had nothing to lose while he lived without desire for money and power. To Alexander,he was the conqueror who has great authority and money. Both of them were free,but in different ways.
(1)Because Alexander is the king, he is free relative to others, and Diogenes is free even though he has nothing, he does not care about anything, so he is either Alexander or Diogenes.
(2)Alexander was very free in material, food, clothing, housing and transportation, while Diogenes was free in spirit and inner, enjoying the sun and not bowing to any dignities.
1.Because Alexander was the ruler and had supreme power, he was free. Diogenes was cynical and didn't care what others thought, so he was also free.
2.In Alexander's opinion, only the highest power and Diogenes in the world are free, because the ruler have enough power to do anything he want just like Diogenes, he does not care about anything, so, he says that if he were not Alexander, he would be Diogenes。
1.Alexander's proud personality makes him have a strong control over his desires like Socrates, and like Diogenes, he does not indulge in worldly things such as wine, women, and wealth, and pursues those things pursued by secular business people, so he will say, "If I were not Alexander, I should be Diogenes."
2.Diogenes is not bound by the world, wealth and power can not stop him, he does not care, and not like others are bound by their own property, so he is free. Alexander was king, he had wealth and power that no one else could have, and he was free. But in general it's about a philosophy of life that's free.
1. Alexander was a powerful world conqueror, representing power, fame, and wealth. He wanted to break the rule of darkness and change people's lives, and he had an obligation to do so, but he also had an inner desire to live a natural, simple and unrestrained life like Diogenes.
2. Alexander had the highest power and wealth, and he could do many things, so he was free. Diogenes has no high requirements for the quality of life, and he has nothing, he is also free. Their common goal is to benefit all mankind, but others are only for themselves.
1.Alexander and Diogenes are similar, they are both philosophers, both very rich, but Alexander is rich in power and wealth, while Diogenes is rich in ideas. Despite his noble reputation, Alexander was probably no different from Diogenes.He believed that Diogenes did not flatter him for his reputation, as others did, but really lived for his beliefs.
2.Alexander is free because he has enough wealth and power to do whatever he wants and not to do anything he doesn't want to do. Diogenes is free because he is not concerned with worldly things, he lives only for his own beliefs, and is not bound by worldly chains.