The Talking Greeks: Speech, Animals, and the Other in Homer, Aeschylus, and Plato

ISBN-13: 9780521832649 / Angielski / Twarda / 2005 / 402 str.

John Heath

Opis

What drove the ancient Greeks to explore human nature and invent Western politics? This book argues that the Greeks believed speech made humans different from other animals. But, this zoological comparison also provided the metaphorical means for viewing those 'lacking' authoritative speech--women, barbarians, and slaves, etc.--as bestial. This link between speech, humanity, and status is revealed through close study of both Homeric epics, classical Athenian culture, Aeschylus' Oresteia, and Plato's Dialogues.

Recenzje

Review of the hardback: '… rich and illuminating study by John Heath. … This is an interesting and stimulating book, with a wide-ranging bibliography on both ancient texts and modern ethical questions.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Spis treści

Introduction; Part I. Speech, Animals, and Human Status in Homer: 1. Bellowing like a bull: humans and other animals in Homer; 2. Controlling language: Telemachus learns to speak; 3. Talking through the heroic code: Achilles learns to tell tales; Part II. Listening for the Other in Classical Greece: 4. Making a difference: the silence of otherness; Part III. Speech, Animals, and Human Status in Classical Athens: 5. Disentangling the beast: humans and other animals in the Oresteia; 6. Socratic silence: the shame of the Athenians; Epilogue.