Words Change Their Meanings: Conceptualizing Political Action through Greek Antiquity

WORDS CHANGE THEIR MEANINGS: CONCEPTUALIZING POLITICAL ACTION THROUGH GREEK ANTIQUITY

Izaiah Rines, Eckerd College, Political Science Discipline

When studying ancient political theory, many think first to ancient Greece and the humble beginnings of democracy. Many look to authors, historians, and philosophers to answer questions about the meaning of citizenship. However, the seeds of democracy are in the early works of Homer. Sowing these seeds is the concept of ἀρετή (English transliteration & pronunciation: areté, ar-eh-tey). This idea, translating to virtue, excellence, and/or morality, evolved into Athenian democracy over time following the events of the Peloponnesian War. In this paper, I analyze the works of Homer, Sophocles, Thucydides, Socrates & Plato, and Aristotle to draw connections between virtue, informed citizenship, and democracy. I found that initially, homeric areté was applied primarily in combat settings, indicating both brute force and cleverness. Later, the playwright Sophocles challenges this idea, placing a heavier focus on the element of virtue in terms of respect, piety, and obligation to family over rulers. Then, in Thucydides’ account of the Peloponnesian War, he recounts the manner in which the concept of arete deteriorates and warps. After the war, philosophers began to theorize how to rebuild Athens in an effective way, eventually discussing ideas of direct representation and the values of a good leader and citizen. Leading the charge is Socrates and his scribe Plato. Finally, I arrive at Aristotle, a student of Plato, who takes a new route in defining the citizen and political rights within a democracy. Furthermore, by looking to antiquity, we are more capable of understanding the state of modern democracy. 

For more information: ikrines@eckerd.edu

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