Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art of Cynicism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze selected pieces of art and infer how they reflect a sense of disillusionment, and/or cynicism in American society in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal. Then they identify and place cultural attitudes...
Handout
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Diogenes

For Students 9th - 10th
An extensive biography of Diogenes, his travels, and beliefs.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Hollywood During the Great Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
One can trace the cynicism and despair at the beginning of the Great Depression to a more optimistic point of view by the end of the New Deal by looking at the movies produced by Hollywood. Read about the subject matter of the movies...
Handout
Other

Diogenes the Ascetic

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the beliefs of Diogenes regarding wealth and pleasure and said he carried Cynicism to the extreme.
Handout
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Stoicism

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy provides a good introduction to the main ideas of Stoicism. Contextualizes the claims of this school among Aristotelian, Heraclitean, and Cynic traditions.