How were moral ideas and behaviour in ancient Athens formulated and made manifest? How did democratic Athens defuse the inevitable tensions that surface insociety? In this groundbreaking work, Professor Herman argues that rather than endorse the Mediterranean ethic of retaliation, democratic Athens looked to the courts to dispense justice. Drawing on a method of analysis taken from thebehavioural sciences, he describes the exceptional strategy of inter-personalrelationships that the Athenian democrats developed to resolve conflict, to increase co-operation and to achieve collective objectives. In a new departure,this work investigates moral ideas and behaviour alongside each other and expands the focus of the study to include all aspects of Athenian life, be it societal or economic. Highly illustrated throughout and interdisciplinary in approach, this work offers new light on society and behaviour in ancient Athens, which might also serve as a model for similar ancient societies. INDICE: 1. Moral precepts and society; 2. Athenian society and government;3. The moral image of the Athenian democracy; 4. Representations and distortions; 5. The structure of conflicts; 6. Revenge and punishment; 7. The coercivepower of the state; 8. Transformations of cruelty; 9. Interactions with the divine; 10. The growth of communal feeling.
- ISBN: 978-0-521-12535-2
- Editorial: Cambridge University
- Encuadernacion: Rústica
- Páginas: 496
- Fecha Publicación: 07/01/2010
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés