They say that the ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles died by jumping into the volcanic Mount Etna. Legend has it, he believed he was a god, and was attempting to prove his immortality.
Diogenes of Sinope, the ancient Greek founder of Cynicism whom Plato famously described as "a Socrates gone mad".
He is the most famous "crazy" philosopher because of his wildly eccentric lifestyle and absolute rejection of societal norms. His most legendary antics included:
Living on the streets: He famously lived in a large ceramic tub (pithos) in the Athens marketplace and survived purely by begging.
Throwing away his only bowl: He carried a wooden bowl for drinking but threw it away after watching a child drink water using their bare hands.
Mocking the elite:
When Alexander the Great visited and offered him any wish in the world, Diogenes just told the emperor to "get out of my sunlight".
Plucking a chicken: When Plato defined human beings as "featherless bipeds," Diogenes plucked a chicken, brought it to Plato's academy, and shouted, "Behold! I've brought you a man