Millennials are considered the most cynical generation on record due to their disillusionment with politics, social convention and the American Dream. While many millennials seem to have the superficial elements of cynicism — irony, irreverence, independence, among other things — down, there is a prevailing belief that being cynical means being dismissive and obnoxious. However, cynicism is a way of thinking and living that — if done authentically — can make life much less aggravating and full of personal happiness.

Cynicism began as a school of philosophical thought dating back well over a thousand years. Greek thinkers like Antisthenes and Crates of Thebes held the belief that life was complicated by things like obscene wealth, passion and adherence to social conventions. Constructs like social status create needless anxiety and self-consciousness that can never truly bring one happiness. At its core, cynicism is an attempt to rectify this by flouting convention and focusing on one’s own happiness and the happiness of those one cares about. It is not, contrary to how it is often employed, a tool to stand separate from the crowd and make other people feel worse while protecting one’s own sense of pride. This is the aloofness of cynicism without any of the happiness that it can provide; it is, more often than not, simply obnoxious.

A good case study for living the authentic cynical life is that of Diogenes of Sinope, another famous Greek who lived in a tub on the streets of Athens and modeled his behavior after that of a dog. One famous legend says that Diogenes was once visited by Alexander the Great and his army. The conqueror asked Diogenes if he wanted anything, to which the cynic, hardly impressed, replied “Yes, stand a little out of my sun.” Alexander later remarked that, “Truly, if I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.” On another occasion, Diogenes was confronted about frequently pleasuring himself in public. He replied, “If only it were as easy to banish hunger by rubbing my belly.” Class act.

While it is currently de rigeur for millennials to be cynical, this cynicism should come from a place of reason and look at things outside their contexts. Hating what’s popular to stand out or be obnoxious is inauthentic cynicism — it exhibits the same social consciousness and anxiety from which the true cynic wants to be liberated. Social conventions like gender, sexuality, etiquette, political power and — as Diogenes exhibited — basic human decency should be treated with all the irreverence and skepticism they deserve. What is important is happiness — something that the authentic cynic has in spades.

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A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Feb. 27 print edition. Email Henry Cohen at [email protected]. Read full version online at nyunews.com.