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1 - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2024

Ruby Blondell
Affiliation:
University of Washington
David Konstan
Affiliation:
New York University
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Summary

According to Aristotle, character or ethos in tragedy is ’that which reveals what the moral choice is like’. This kind of ethos is what this book explores in Sophocles, by examining five tragedies in which moral choice is central to the course of the drama. These choices are made within the context of traditional Greek morality, which, amongst other things, expected one to help one’s friends and harm one’s enemies. Closely allied to these principles is the conception of justice as retaliation. This nexus of principles provides a pervasive ethical background to most of Greek literature and is of special significance for tragedy.

Type
Chapter
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Helping Friends and Harming Enemies
A Study in Sophocles and Greek Ethics
, pp. 1 - 25
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Introduction
  • Ruby Blondell, University of Washington
  • Foreword by David Konstan, New York University
  • Book: Helping Friends and Harming Enemies
  • Online publication: 06 June 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009465854.004
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

  • Introduction
  • Ruby Blondell, University of Washington
  • Foreword by David Konstan, New York University
  • Book: Helping Friends and Harming Enemies
  • Online publication: 06 June 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009465854.004
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • Ruby Blondell, University of Washington
  • Foreword by David Konstan, New York University
  • Book: Helping Friends and Harming Enemies
  • Online publication: 06 June 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009465854.004
Available formats
×