Frankness, Greek culture, and the Roman Empire / Dana Fields.

Author
Fields, Dana Farah, 1980- [Browse]
Format
Book
Language
English
Published/​Created
  • Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2021.
  • ©2021
Description
ix, 236 pages ; 25 cm.

Details

Subject(s)
Series
Routledge monographs in classical studies [More in this series]
Summary note
"Frankness, Greek Culture, and the Roman Empire discusses the significance of parrhēsia (free and frank speech) in Greek culture of the Roman empire. The term parrhēsia first emerged in the context of the classical Athenian democracy and was long considered a key democratic and egalitarian value. And yet, references to frank speech pervade the literature of the Roman empire, a time when a single autocrat ruled over most of the known world, Greek cities were governed at the local level by entrenched oligarchies, and social hierarchy was becomingly increasingly stratified. This volume challenges the traditional view that the meaning of the term changed radically after Alexander the Great, and rather shows that parrhēsia retained both political and ethical significance well into the Roman empire. By examining references to frankness in political writings, rhetoric, philosophy, historiography, biographical literature, and finally satire, the volume also explores the dynamics of political power in the Roman empire, where politics was located in interpersonal relationships as much as, if not more than, in institutions. The contested nature of the power relations in such interactions - between emperors and their advisors, between orators and the cities they counseled, and among fellow members of the oligarchic elite in provincial cities - reveals the political implications of a prominent post-classical intellectual development that reconceptualizes true freedom as belonging to the man who behaves - and speaks - freely. At the same time, because the role of frank speaker is valorized, those who claim it also lay themselves open to suspicions of self-promotion and hypocrisy. This volume will be of interest to students and scholars of rhetoric and political thought in the ancient world, and to anyone interested in ongoing debates about intellectual freedom, limits on speech, and the advantages of presenting oneself as a truth-teller"-- Provided by publisher.
Bibliographic references
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents
  • Parrhēsia, frankness, and post-classical politics
  • Speaking freely
  • Kings : frankness to power
  • Dēmos : rhetoric in the post-classical city
  • Elites : hierarchy, oligarchy, and friendship
  • Authorizing frankness : Lucian's satire
  • Conclusion.
ISBN
  • 9780367262419
  • 036726241X (hardcover)
LCCN
2020002093
OCLC
1136530176
Statement on responsible collection description
Princeton University Library aims to describe library materials in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections we manage. Read more...
Other views
Staff view

Supplementary Information