He went over, students and all, to learn from the master. Antisthenes is the founder of cynicism . Cynicism involves living the simple life in order that the soul can be set free. It is a back to nature type of philosophy, ala St. Francis of Assisi. By eliminating one s needs and possessions, one can better concentrate on the life of philosophy.
Cynicism makes virtue the only good, the only true happiness.
Rejecting civilization, cynics tended to withdraw from society, even to live in the desert. In this, they may have influenced early Jewish and Christian monastics. Alexander asked if there was anything he could do for him. Diogenes just asked him to move out of the sun. Originally from Cyrene on the north coast of Africa, he returned there to found his own school, where he taught the philosophy of hedonism.