Xenophon’s Other Voice : Irony As Social Criticism in the 4th Century BCE

"This volume explores irony - in its essence, saying other than one actually means - in the collected works of Xenophon. Xenophon's Other Voice argues that there are two voices in the author: one ostensible at the level of the literal text, which is available to everyone, while the sub-title designates the other voice, which is less obvious to the reader and indeed, an ironic one. It presents a unified view of the author's entire corpus and argues that the function of Xenophontic irony is to offer critiques of the societies in which he finds himself. Rejecting both non-ironic and Straussian interpretations of Xenophon's writings, Yun Lee Too offers a wholly original perspective on the contemporary debate of how he should be read, which is underpinned by a series of incisive readings of the individual works. Beginning with Xenophon's representation of an ironic Socrates, who condemns the contemporary city and its more prominent citizens, the book moves on to consider how the author develops his own approach to irony. He deploys irony to criticize aspects of Athenian society, such as its understanding of wealth, its armed forces and sophistic education. The book then turns to his treatment of other Hellenic societies, including the Spartan city-state and laws, kingship in Syracuse and war amongst the Greek states. It finally considers Persia, covering Xenophon's depiction of Cyrus the Great and the expedition with Cyrus the Younger"-- Provided by publisher Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Contents Preface Acknowledgements Introduction I II III IV V VI Part One Socrates on Athens 1 Xenophon’s Apology: The Death of Socratic Irony; the Birth of Xenophontic Irony I II IV V III 2 The Memorabilia: Remembering Truth and Lies about Socrates I II III IV V VI 3 Partying Life (Away) in Xenophon’s Symposium I II III IV 4 The Economies of Pedagogy in the Oeconomicus: Xenophon’s Wifely Didactics1 I II III IV V Part Two Xenophon on Athens 5 The Critique of the Sophists in On Hunting I II III IV V VI 6 Xenophon on Equine Culture I II III IV 7 Xenophon’s Poroi or ‘Ways and Means’? I II III Part Three The Rest of Greece 8 Why Xenophon’s Hiero Is not a Socratic Dialogue I II III IV 9 Spartan Disappointments I II III IV V VI 10 The Hellenica and the Irony of War I II III IV V VI Part Four Persia 11 Xenophon’s Cyropaedia: Disfiguring the Pedagogical State1 I II III IV V VI 12 Coming Home? The Anabasis as Community I II III IV V VI VII Concluding Thoughts I II Notes Bibliography Greek Index Index Introduction -- Part I. Socrates on Athens -- 1. Xenophon's Apology : The Death of Socratic Irony; the Birth of Xenophontic Irony -- 2. The Memorabilia : Remembering Truth and Lies about Socrates -- 3. Partying Life (Away) in Xenophon's Symposium -- 4. The Economies of Pedagogy in the Oeconomicus : Xenophon's Wifely Didactics -- Part II. Xenophon on Athens -- 5. The Critique of the Sophists in On Hunting -- 6. Xenophon on Equine Culture -- 7. Xenophon's Poroi or 'Ways and Means'? -- Part III. The Rest of Greece -- 8. Why Xenophon's Hiero Is Not a Socratic Dialogue -- 9. Spartan Dis-appointments -- 10. The Hellenica and the Irony of War -- Part IV. Persia -- 11. Xenophon's Cyropaedia : Disfiguring the Pedagogical State -- 12. Coming Home? The Anabasis as Community -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index