In Greek Tragedy and Political Philosophy, Peter J. Ahrensdorf examines Sophocles’ powerful analysis of a central question of political philosophy and a perennial question of political life: Should citizens and leaders govern political society by the light of unaided human reason or religious faith? Through a fresh examination of Sophocles’ timeless masterpieces – Oedipus the Tyrant, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone – Ahrensdorf offers a sustained challenge to the prevailing view, championed by Nietzsche in his attack on Socratic rationalism, that Sophocles is an opponent of rationalism. Ahrensdorf argues that Sophocles is a genuinely philosophical thinker and a rationalist, albeit one who advocates a cautious political rationalism. Such rationalism constitutes a middle way between an immoderate political rationalism that dismisses religion – exemplified by Oedipus the Tyrant – and a piety that rejects reason – exemplified by Oedipus at Colonus. Ahrensdorf concludes with an incisive analysis of Nietzsche, Socrates, and Aristotle on tragedy and philosophy. He argues, against Nietzsche, that the rationalism of Socrates and Aristotle incorporates a profound awareness of the tragic dimension of human existence and therefore resembles in fundamental ways the somber and humane rationalism of Sophocles.

lgli/AHRENSDORF - Greek tragedy & political philosophy ; Sophocles (CUP 2009)(IN)ISBN978-0-511-50849-3.pdf

lgrsnf/AHRENSDORF - Greek tragedy & political philosophy ; Sophocles (CUP 2009)(IN)ISBN978-0-511-50849-3.pdf

zlib/Society, Politics & Philosophy/Ancient & Medieval Philosophy/Peter J. Arendorf/Greek Tragedy & Political Philosophy: Rationalism and Religion in Sophocles' Theban Plays_634654.pdf

Greenwich Medical Media Ltd

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

New York, N.Y, 2009

lg206909

{"isbns":["0511508492","9780511508493"],"last_page":206,"publisher":"Cambridge University Press"}

Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Dedication......Page 7
Contents......Page 9
Acknowledgments......Page 11
GREEK TRAGEDY AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY......Page 13
Introduction......Page 15
Crime and Punishment?......Page 23
From Enlightenment to Theocracy......Page 28
Nobility and Self-Interest......Page 39
The Inhumane Piety of Oedipus and the Humane Rationalism of Sophocles......Page 48
All's Well that Ends Well?......Page 62
The Virtue of Blindness and the Rejection of Reason......Page 64
Oedipus's Recourse to Reason to Defend His Hopes......Page 69
Oedipus's Argument That He Deserves Divine Favor......Page 72
The Pleasures of Anger and the Rejection of Reason......Page 83
The Enlightened Statesmanship of Theseus......Page 87
Conclusion......Page 96
Right Over Might?......Page 99
The Pious Heroism of Antigone......Page 104
Justice and Self-Interest: The Challenge of Ismene......Page 119
Justice and the Family: The Challenge of Creon......Page 127
The Weakness of Familial Piety: The Fall of Antigone......Page 140
The Power of Familial Piety: The Fall of Creon......Page 148
Conclusion......Page 162
Conclusion Nietzsche, Plato, and Aristotle on Philosophy and Tragedy......Page 165
Nietzsche: The Courageous Truthfulness of the Tragic Human Being......Page 167
Socrates: The Softness of the Tragic Heroes......Page 170
Aristotle: The Philosophic Education through Tragedy......Page 182
Bibliography......Page 193
Index......Page 201

In this book, Peter Ahrensdorf examines Sophocles'powerful analysis of a central question of political philosophy and a perennial question of political life: should citizens and leaders govern political society by the light of unaided human reason or religious faith? Through an examination of Sophocles'timeless masterpieces - Oedipus the Tyrant, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone - Ahrensdorf offers a sustained challenge to the prevailing view, championed by Nietzsche in his attack on Socratic rationalism, that Sophocles is an opponent of rationalism. Ahrensdorf argues that Sophocles is a genuinely philosophical thinker and a rationalist, albeit one who advocates a cautious political rationalism. Ahrensdorf concludes with an incisive analysis of Nietzsche, Socrates and Aristotle on tragedy and philosophy. He argues, against Nietzsche, that the rationalism of Socrates and Aristotle incorporates a profound awareness of the tragic dimension of human existence and therefore resembles in fundamental ways the somber and humane rationalism of Sophocles.

In this book, Peter Ahrensdorf examines Sophocles' powerful analysis of a central question of political philosophy and a perennial question of political life: should citizens and leaders govern political society by the light of unaided human reason or religious faith? Through an examination of Sophocles' timeless masterpieces - Oedipus the Tyrant, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone - Ahrensdorf offers a sustained challenge to the prevailing view, championed by Nietzsche in his attack on Socratic rationalism, that Sophocles is an opponent of rationalism. Ahrensdorf argues that Sophocles is a genui

2010-02-18