CYN 
Tfiere is only one species, tk. C. daurica, 
a native of the mountains of Dauria. 
CYNANCHUM, in botany, a genus of 
the Pentandria Digynia class and order. 
Natural order of Contortce.Apocineae, Jus- 
sieu. Essential character : contorted ; necta- 
ry cylindric, live-toothed. There are twenty- 
seven species. These shrubs are commonly 
twining ; leaves opposite ; flowers axillary 
or terminating, disposed in spikes, coryml)s, 
or umbels. These are plants chiefly inha- 
bitants of liot climates. They are tender, 
and will not thrive in this country, unless 
they are placed in a bark stove. 
CYNARA, the artichoke, a genus of the 
Syngenesia Polygamia ALqualis class and or- 
der. Natural order of Compositse Capi- 
tatas. Cinarocephalm, Jussieu. Essential 
character : calyx dilated, imbricate, with 
fleshy scales, emarginate with an acumen. 
There are six species. The artichoke in its 
wild state is said to attain the height of a 
man. The leaves ai’e more tomentose than 
in the garden plant, and every small divi- 
sion of them is armed with a strong yellow- 
ish spine. Tlie heads are smaller, and have 
larger stronger spines at the ends of the 
scales. It is a native of the south of Eu- 
rope. In some parts it is eaten raw in its 
wild stale by the common people. It will 
dye a good yellow : the flowers are used in- 
stead of rennet to turn milk for cheese. 
The whole plant has a peculiar smell, and 
a strong bitter taste. 
CYNICS, a sect of ancient philosophers, 
tvho valued themselves upon their contempt 
of riches and state, arts and sciences, and 
every thing, iij short, except virtue or mo- 
rality. 
The sect of the Cynics, founded by An- 
listhenes, is not so much to be regarded as 
a school of philosophy, as an institution of 
manners. It was formed, rather for the 
purpose of providing a remedy for the mo- 
ral disorders of luxury, ambition, and ava- 
rice, than with a view to establish any new 
theory of specnlative opinions. The disci- 
ples of Antisthenes and other leaders of this 
sect, considered their masters, not as au- 
thors of any new doctrine, but as patrons 
of strict and inflexible virtue; and were re- 
garded by them, rather as examples for 
tlieir imitation in the conduct of life, than 
as preceptors to guide tliem in tlie search 
of truth. 
The sole end of the Cynic philosophy 
vras, to subdue the passions, and produce 
simplicity of manners. The characteristic 
VOL. II. 
CYN 
peculiarities of the sect were, an indignant 
contempt of efl'eminate vices, and a rigo- 
rous adherence to the rules of moral dis- 
cipline. A Cynic, according to the original 
spirit of the sect, was one who appeared in 
a coarse garb, and carried a wallet and 
staff', as external symbols of severity, and 
who regarded every thing with inditference, 
except that kind of virtue which consists in 
a haughty contempt of external good, and a 
hardy endurance of external ill. Simplicity 
and moderation were indeed in this sect 
carried to the extreme of austerity, and at 
last produced the Stoic system of apathy; 
but the real design of the founders both of 
the Cynic and the Stoic sect, seems to have 
been to establish virtuous manners. The 
rigorous discipline which was practised by 
the first Cynics, and which afterwards de- 
generated into the most absurd severity, 
was at first adopted for the laudable pur- 
pose of exhibiting an example of modera- 
tion and virtuous self-command. If, in ex- 
ecuting this |)raise-worthy design, a portion 
of vanity blended itself with the love of vir- 
tue, who will not be inclined to pardon the 
weakness, out of respect to the merit of the 
charficler? That they might be perfectly at 
liberty to apply themselves to the cultiva- 
tion of virtuous habits and manners, with- 
out interruption from the noisy contests of 
speculative philosophy, the Cynics re- 
nounced every kind of scientific pursuit ; 
contending, that to those who are endued 
by nature with a mind disposed to virtue, 
the puisnits of learning are an umiecessary 
and troublesome interruption of the main 
business of life. Hence they entirely dis- 
carded all dialectic, physical, and mathema- 
tical speculations, and confined themselves 
to the study, or rather to the practice of 
virtue. This was certainly injudicious ; 
but it is some apology for their error, that 
Socrates had taken pains to inspire his fol- 
lowers with a contempt of theoretical 
science, when considered in comparison 
with practical wisdom. It may also be ad- 
ded, that the learning which flourished at 
that time in Greece, chiefly consisted in fu- 
tile speculations, and an illegitimate kind of 
eloquence, which contributed little towards 
the happiness of society, or the real im- 
provement of the human mind. 
The sum of the moral doctrine of Antisthe- 
nes and the Cynic sect is this: Virtue alone 
is a sufficient foundation for a happy life. 
Virliie consists, not in a vain ostentation of 
learning, or an idle display of words, but in 
a steady course of right conduct. Wisdom 
G 
