We’ve Lost the True Meaning of Cynicism

Happiness expert Arthur C. Brooks talks about cynicism – the belief that people are generally morally bankrupt and behave treacherously in order to maximize self-interest – and says it’s both endemic in the U.S. and bad for one’s health.  “To improve your well-being, you shouldn’t merely try to avoid cynicism in all its forms.  Instead, work to become a true cynic, in its original sense,” Brooks writes.  He notes ancient Greek cynics were those who refused to accept “the assumptions and habits that discourage people from questioning conventional dogmas, and thus hold us back from the search for deep wisdom and happiness.”  As always, Brooks has solid advice for living a happier life.

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