Greek Tragedy and Political Philosophy : Rationalism and Religion in Sophocles' Theban Plays

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. 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