Xenophon: Ethical Principles and Historical Enquiry (Mnemosyne Supplements History and Archaeology of Classical Antiquity, 348)

Xenophon s personal history was exceptional for its combination of Socratic education and the exercise of military leadership in a time of crisis. His writings provide an intellectually and morally consistent response to his times and to the issue of ethical but effective leadership, and they play a special role in defining our sense of the post-Athenian-Empire Greek world. Recent Xenophontic scholarship has established the general truth of these claims. The current volume will not only reinforce them but also contribute to greater understanding of a voice that is neither simply ironic nor simply ingenuous and of a view of the world that is informed by an engagement with history." Xenophon: Ethical Principles and Historical Enquiry 4 Contents 8 Preface 10 Abbreviations 12 Fiona Hobden and Christopher Tuplin: Introduction 14 Reading Xenophon 14 Socrates, ‘Socratic History’ and the Problem of Irony 33 En envoi 52 Bibliography 53 1. Philip Stadter: ‘Staying Up Late’: Plutarch’s Reading of Xenophon 56 Symposium 59 Cyropaedia 63 Memorabilia 64 Oeconomicus 65 Constitution of the Lacedaemonians 67 Anabasis 68 Cynegeticus 69 Conclusion 70 Bibliography 73 2. Noreen Humble: The Renaissance Reception of Xenophon’s Spartan Constitution: Preliminary Observations 76 Introduction 76 Renaissance Translators of the Spartan Constitution 79 Conclusion and Prospect 95 Bibliography 98 3. Tim Rood: A Delightful Retreat: Xenophon and the Picturesque 102 Retreat from Political Disorder 104 A Place to Hunt 113 A Place to Think and Write 117 The Religious Perspective 122 A Delightful Retreat? 128 Bibliography 130 4. David M. Johnson: Strauss on Xenophon 136 Introductory 136 Strauss on the Taste of Xenophon 138 Strauss’s Reading of Memorabilia 4.4 144 Strauss’s First Claim: Socrates Does Not Equate Justice with Obeying the Laws of Athens 146 Words and Deeds (Strauss 1939: 518–519; cf. Dorion 2010: 296–302) 146 Alcibiades and Pericles (Strauss 1939: 519–520, 2000: 73; cf. 1972:15. Dorion 2010: 302–306) 149 Teachers of Justice (Strauss 1939: 520; Dorion 2010: 306–307) 151 Socrates’ Just Actions (Strauss 2000: 73–74; Dorion 2001: 105–107) 152 Hippias and the Logic of the Argument (Strauss 1972: 108–110; Dorion 2010: 315–319) 154 Justice as Benefaction (Strauss 2000: 74; cf. 1989: 135–145) 158 The Laws of the City vs. Natural Law (Strauss 1972: 111, 1939: 520; Dorion 2010: 307–310) 159 Strauss’s Second Claim: Socrates Does Not Identify Justice with the Unwritten Laws of the Gods (Strauss 1972: 111–112) 161 The Argument Belongs to Hippias, Not Socrates 161 The Absence of an Argument to Justify the First Two Unwritten Laws 163 The Flawed Argument about Incest 165 Hippias’ Final Words 166 Wrapping Up 169 Bibliography 171 5. Dustin Gish: Defending dēmokratia: Athenian Justice and the Trial of the Arginusae Generals in Xenophon’s Hellenica 174 Athenian dēmokratia: A Thucydidean Prologue 176 Xenophon’s Introduction to the Trial of the Generals 180 Democratic Accountability and the Charges against the Generals 185 The Trial of the Generals: Procedural Democracy 190 The Sovereign Will of the dēmos 196 Democratic thorubos 200 Democatic thumos 204 Stasis and the Preservation of the Regime 209 Defending dēmokratia: Public-Spirited Democratic Deliberation 215 Appendix I 217 Appendix II 220 Bibliography 222 6. Guido Schepens: Timocrates’ Mission to Greece—Once Again 226 Introduction 226 Xenophon’s Explanation of the Corinthian War 230 P’s Explanation of the Corinthian War 235 The Theban Denunciation of Sparta 241 Agesilaus and the Spartan View 244 Conclusion 249 Bibliography 250 7. Michael Stokes: Three Defences of Socrates: Relative Chronology, Politics and Religion 256 Isocrates Busiris 4–5 256 XM Is Later Than PA 261 XA Is Later Than PA 262 The Opening of XA 262 Socrates’ daimonion or Divine Sign 263 The Oracle 266 Socrates’ Third Speech in XA and PA 271 Interim Conclusions and Some Consequences 272 Final Conclusion 279 Bibliography 279 8. Robin Waterfield: Xenophon on Socrates’ Trial and Death 282 Plato versus Xenophon? 283 Socrates’ megalēgoria 286 Does Socrates Mount a Serious Defence? 289 Amnesty? 294 The Resurrection of Chroust 297 Socratic Politics: Basic Principles 301 Neither Democrat Nor Oligarch 304 Socrates and the Thirty 307 Socrates’ Political Mission 309 Conclusion: A Scapegoat? 311 Bibliography 315 9. Shane Brennan: Mind the Gap: A ‘Snow Lacuna’ in Xenophon’s Anabasis? 320 Introduction 320 The Nature and Purpose of Xenophon’s Travelogue 321 The Climatic Conditions on the March Down to the Sea 325 Climate of Eastern Turkey 327 Arabian Platform 328 Eastern Anatolia 329 Black Sea 330 Space and Time: Mapping the Route of the Ten Thousand 330 Anabasis 3.5.7, 4.1.2. The Size of the Tigris at the ‘Crossroads’ 331 Anabasis 4.1.15, 2.2, 2.7. Weather Events in Carduchia 334 Anabasis 4.4.8, 4.11, 5.1. Heavy Snowfalls between the Teleboas (Karasu) and Euphrates Rivers 335 Anabasis 4.5.3–6. Deep Snow after Crossing the Euphrates Close to Its Sources 337 Anabasis 4.7.21–26. Crossing of the Black Sea Mountains, Mount Theches 338 The ‘Snow Lacuna’ Theory 340 Summary and Conclusions 345 Bibliography 349 10. Sarah Brown Ferrario: Historical Agency and Self-Awareness in Xenophon’s Hellenica and Anabasis 354 Introduction: Creating Historical Meaning in Classical Greece 354 Agesilaus in the Hellenica 357 Alcibiades and Lysander 366 Alcibiades 367 Lysander 370 Xenophon and ‘Xenophon’ in the Anabasis 374 Conclusion: The Historian’s History 385 Bibliography 386 11. Ellen Millender: Spartan ‘Friendship’ and Xenophon’s Crafting of the Anabasis 390 ‘Friendship’, Laconian Style 393 Clearchus and the ‘Friendship of the Barbarian’ 393 Anaxibius, Aristarchus, and the ‘Gratification’ of Pharnabazus 411 Xenophon the φιλοστρατιώτης 417 Spartan ‘Friendship’, Isocrates, and the King’s Peace 421 Bibliography 435 12. Rosie Harman: A Spectacle of Greekness: Panhellenism and the Visual in Xenophon’s Agesilaus 440 Narratorial Authority and the Reader’s Sight 446 Internal Spectators 455 Conclusion 463 Bibliography 464 13. Louis-André Dorion: The Nature and Status of sophia in the Memorabilia 468 The Ambivalence of sophia 468 Sophia and the Alleged Unity of the Virtues 477 Anthrōpinē sophia 481 Conclusion 487 Bibliography 488 14. Louis L’Allier: Why Did Xenophon Write the Last Chapter of the Cynegeticus? 490 Introduction 490 The Political Context 491 The Text: Articulation, Integrity and Authenticity 492 Chapter 1: The Mythological Paradigm 494 Chapters 2–11: Technical Instruction and the Individualistic Hunt 495 Chapters 12–13: Defending the Hunt and Denouncing the Sophists 496 The Defence of Hunting 496 The Attack on Sophists 498 The Defence and the Accusers 501 Conclusion 508 Bibliography 509 15. Gabriel Danzig: The Best of the Achaemenids: Benevolence, Self-Interest and the ‘Ironic’ Reading of Cyropaedia 512 Introduction 512 The Pursuit of Self-Interest 517 Sincere philanthrōpia 522 Conflict of Interests? 524 Me and My Uncle 527 Big and Little Boys 529 Deception? 530 Withholding Information? 531 Change of Plan? 532 Lack of Consideration 535 Who Violates What? 537 The Charitable Interpretation 537 Good Advice 541 I’m a Loser 542 Cyrus as Seducer 546 Restoring Honour 548 Conclusion 550 Bibliography 551 16. John Henderson: Pheraulas Is the Answer, What Was the Question? (You Cannot Be Cyrus) 554 Bibliography 573 17. Melina Tamiolaki: Virtue and Leadership in Xenophon: Ideal Leaders or Ideal Losers? 576 Introduction 576 Xenophon’s Political Leaders: The Different Degrees of Virtue and Success 578 Ideal Leaders or the Ambiguity of Virtue 583 Virtuous Socrates: A Virtual Leader 593 Conclusion: Virtue and Leadership vs. Leadership without Virtue and Virtue without Leadership 599 Bibliography 600 18. Lisa Irene Hau: Does Pride Go before a Fall? Xenophon on Arrogant Pride 604 Phron-Words Used in a Purely Negative Sense 605 Phron-Words Used in a Positive Sense, Apparent or Real 608 Conclusion 619 Bibliography 622 19. Pierre Pontier: Xenophon and the Persian Kiss 624 The Kiss of Megabates 625 From Agesilaus to Cyrus 632 Conclusion: From Agesilaus to Alexander 639 Bibliography 641 20. Emily Baragwanath: The Wonder of Freedom: Xenophon on Slavery 644 ‘Wonder is the Only Beginning of Philosophy’ 644 Symposiac Spectacles 649 Menial Marvels 658 Ideal Leadership, Moral Freedom 663 Conclusion 671 Bibliography 673 21. Thomas J. Figueira: Economic Thought and Economic Fact in the Works of Xenophon 678 Introduction 678 Specific Cases 682 Legacies 695 Conclusion 696 Bibliography 697 22. Stefan Schorn: The Philosophical Background of Xenophon’s Poroi 702 Bibliography 733 23. Joseph Jansen: Strangers Incorporated: Outsiders in Xenophon’s Poroi 738 Outsiders in Athens 739 Outsiders in the Poroi 745 Slaves 747 Foreigners 753 Metics 759 Conclusion 767 Bibliography 769 Index of Names 774 Thematic Index 785 'staying Up Late' : Plutarch's Reading Of Xenophon / Philip Stadter -- The Renaissance Reception Of Xenophon's Spartan Constitution : Preliminary Observations / Noreen Humble -- A Delightful Retreat : Xenophon And The Picturesque / Tim Rood -- Strauss On Xenophon / David M. Johnson -- Defending Demokratia : Athenian Justice And The Trial Of The Arginusae Generals In Xenophon's Hellenica / Dustin Gish -- Timocrates' Mission To Greece--once Again / Guido Schepens -- Three Defences Of Socrates: Relative Chronology, Politics And Religion / Michael Stokes -- Xenophon On Socrates' Trial And Death / Robin Waterfield -- Mind The Gap : A 'snow Lacuna' In Xenophon's Anabasis? / Shane Brennan -- Historical Agency And Self-awareness In Xenophon's Hellenica And Anabasis / Sarah Brown Ferrario -- Spartan 'friendship' And Xenophon's Crafting Of The Anabasis / Ellen Millender -- A Spectacle Of Greekness : Panhellenism And The Visual In Xenophon's Agesilaus / Rosie Harman. The Nature And Status Of Sophia In The Memorabilia / Louis-andre Dorion -- Why Did Xenophon Write The Last Chapter Of The Cynegeticus? / Louis L'allier -- The Best Of The Achaemenids : Benevolence, Self-interest And The 'ironic' Reading Of Cyropaedia / Gabriel Danzig -- Pheraulas Is The Answer, What Was The Question? (you Cannot Be Cyrus) / John Henderson -- Virtue And Leadership In Xenophon : Ideal Leaders Or Ideal Losers? / Melina Tamiolaki -- Does Pride Go Before A Fall? : Xenophon On Arrogant Pride / Lisa Irene Hau -- Xenophon And The Persian Kiss / Pierre Pontier -- The Wonder Of Freedom : Xenophon On Slavery / Emily Baragwanath -- Economic Thought And Economic Fact In The Works Of Xenophon / Thomas J. Figueira -- The Philosophical Background Of Xenophon's Poroi / Stefan Schorn -- Strangers Incorporated : Outsiders In Xenophon's Poroi / Joseph Jansen. Edited By Fiona Hobden, Christopher Tuplin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. 'Staying up late' : Plutarch's reading of Xenophon / Philip Stadter The Renaissance reception of Xenophon's Spartan constitution : preliminary observations / Noreen Humble A delightful retreat : Xenophon and the picturesque / Tim Rood Strauss on Xenophon / David M. Johnson Defending demokratia : Athenian justice and the trial of the Arginusae generals in Xenophon's Hellenica / Dustin Gish Timocrates' mission to Greece-once again / Guido Schepens Defences of Socrates: relative chronology, politics and religion / Michael Stokes Xenophon on Socrates' trial and death / Robin Waterfield Mind the gap : a 'snow lacuna' in Xenophon's Anabasis? / Shane Brennan Historical agency and self-awareness in Xenophon's Hellenica and Anabasis / Sarah Brown Ferrario Spartan 'friendship' and Xenophon's crafting of the Anabasis / Ellen Millender A spectacle of Greekness : panhellenism and the visual in Xenophon's Agesilaus / Rosie Harman. The nature and status of Sophia in the memorabilia / Louis-Andre Dorion Why did Xenophon write the last chapter of the Cynegeticus? / Louis L'Allier Best of the Persians : benevolence, self-interest and the 'ironic' reading of Cyropaedia / Gabriel Danzig Pheraulas is the answer, what was the question? (you cannot be Cyrus) / John Henderson Virtue and leadership in Xenophon : ideal leaders or ideal losers? / Melina Tamiolaki Does pride go before a fall? : Xenophon on arrogant pride / Lisa Irene Hau Xenophon and the Persian kiss / Pierre Pontier The wonder of freedom : Xenophon on slavery / Emily Baragwanath Economic thought and economic fact in the works of Xenophon / Thomas J. Figueira The philosophical background of Xenophon's Poroi / Stefan Schorn Strangers incorporated : outsiders in Xenophon's Poroi / Joseph Jansen. "This book offers a concise introduction to Xenophon, the Athenian historian, political thinker, moral philosopher and literary innovator who was also a pupil of Socrates, a military general on campaign in Persia, and an exile in residence in the Peloponnese during the late fifth and fourth centuries BC. Alive during one of the most turbulent periods in Greek history, Xenophon wrote extensively about the past and present. In doing so he not only invented several new genres, but also developed pointed political analyses and probing moral critiques. It is the purpose of this book to explore Xenophon's life, writing and ideas, and reception through thematic studies that draw upon the full range of his work. Starting with his approach to the past and to Socrates, it demonstrates how the depiction of events and people from previous times and places are inflected with contemporary concerns about political instability and the challenges of leadership, as well as by a 'Socratic' perspective on politics and morality. The following in-depth examination of Xenophon's theories concerning political organization and the bases for a good life highlight the interconnectivity of his ideas about how to live together and how to live well. Although Xenophon addresses conceptual issues, his writings provide a practical response to real-life problems. Finally, an evaluation of his significance as an inspiration to later writers in their creative interrogations of human affairs brings the investigations to a close. This book thus illuminates Xenophon's importance within the vibrant intellectual culture of ancient Greece as an active participant in and evaluator of his world, as well as his impact over time"--