The Talking Greeks
Speech, Animals, and the Other in Homer, Aeschylus, and Plato
1st Edition
Published on 12. May 2005
978-0-511-11014-6 (ISBN)
Description
When considering the question of what makes us human, the ancient Greeks provided numerous suggestions. This book argues that the defining criterion in the Hellenic world, however, was the most obvious one: speech. It explores how it was the capacity for authoritative speech which was held to separate humans from other animals, gods from humans, men from women, Greeks from non-Greeks, citizens from slaves, and the mundane from the heroic. John Heath illustrates how Homer's epics trace the development of immature young men into adults managing speech in entirely human ways and how in Aeschylus' Oresteia only human speech can disentangle man, beast, and god. Plato's Dialogues are shown to reveal the consequences of Socratically imposed silence. With its examination of the Greek focus on speech, animalization, and status, this book offers new readings of key texts and provides significant insights into the Greek approach to understanding our world.
Reviews / Votes
Review of the hardback: '... impressive in its richness of ideas and references, imaginative in its approach, and interesting to all.' The London Association of Classical Teachers Newsletter Review of the hardback: '... this is a readable and jargon-free book, lively and stimulating.' CA News Review of the hardback: '... stimulating ...' The Anglo-Hellenic Review 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 ReviewMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Cambridge University Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
File size
3,32 MB
ISBN-13
978-0-511-11014-6 (9780511110146)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
07/2009
Cambridge University Press
€65.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Book
05/2005
Cambridge University Press
€138.80
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
John Heath is Professor of Classics at Santa Clara University. He is the author of numerous articles on Latin and Greek literature, myth and culture. His previous publications include Actaeon, the Unmannerly Intruder (1992), Who Killed Homer? (with Victor Davis Hanson) (1998, revised edition, 2001) and Bonfire of the Humanities (with Victor Davis Hanson and Bruce Thornton) (2001).
Content
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.
