POLI 107 1st Edition Lecture 2Outline of Current Lecture Greek Political Theory IntroCity-State:- Greek city-state was the focal point of social and political life- Thus it was the primary focal point of Greek political theory - Key characteristics:o Small in areao Small in population - Divided by class:o Slaves No part of political lifeo Resident foreigners  No part of political lifeo Citizens  Only people allowed to participate in the governance of the city Citizenship entailed an obligation to serve- Embodies certain ideals:o Democracyo Importance of participating in civic lifePericles’ Funeral Oration:- Appears in Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War- Conveys the emotional aspect of the city, and the deep meaning it held for its citizens- City is basis for ones being- Meaning:o CF 14 Customs is the basis of law One has a duty to obey the law and not question ito CF 14-15 “Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others the imitators ourselves” Pericles is clearly prideful of his constitution Athens’ constitution is superior to any othero “Its administration favors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy. If we look to laws… he is not hindered by the obscurity of his condition” Power is shared by the many Laws promote the common interest rather than the individual interests Anyone can play a part in public life, and ones rank reflects merit rather than class or familyo “The freedom which we enjoy in our govt extends also to our ordinary life. There,far from… teaching us to obey the magistrates and the laws…” Freedom to pursue one’s private interests in secured by a shared duty to obey the law, which establishes the limits on one’s freedom according to the needs of the common good When others judge you for pursuing your private affairs, even if the affairsare in accordance with the law, this can create a psychological penalty- a sense of shame for rightfully enjoying one’s freedomo “Our public men have, besides politics, their private affairs to attend to, and our ordinary citizens, through occupied… but in the confidence of liberality” Private interests should not interfere with one’s obligation to the public interest Citizens who take no part in public affairs are useless Free discussion is an inherent part of wise actiono “I say that as a city we are the school of Hellas… power of the state acquired by these habits proves” Athenians are a breed apart Good citizen = versatile citizen, able to serve many functions in the interests of the city Athens’ empire and influence is rooted in its political systemGeneral Principles of Early Greek Political Theory:- Civic life is a life in common, where the happiness of one depends upon the happiness ofanother- Achieving this common life is the driving question animating Greek PT- Two key political values were deemed to be integral in a harmonious common life: freedom and respect for lawo Freedom: Ensures that others will not interfere with your private pursuits Your private pursuits will not intrude upon others or upon one’s obligations to public lifeo Law: Promotes virtue among the citizenry by codifying understandings of right and wrong achieved through open, rational, and inclusive discussion- Sound, good laws thus create optimal conditions for the exercise of one’s freedom, and the process by which laws are made ensures that they are legitimateBy the 5th Century, BC:- There is evidence of increasing interest in other political cultures and systems- Some view this interest in alternatives as reflecting concerns over changed underway in Greek society, economy and politics- Others began to criticize the Greek system for failing to achieve a harmonious, common lifeSocrates & the Sophists:- Sophists were essentially scholars for hire who met a 5th century demand in Athens for education in logic and ethics, as well as other humanistic subjects- This challenged the dominance of the physical sciences over political theory- These changes would lead to an important modification- Within the variation of human affairs and customs could be found strands of an unchanging human nature- the effect, a ‘law of nature’- To appeal to a universal law of nature applicable to human affairs meant that one also discarded custom as a pillar of political theory- Promoting the law of nature in political theory ran against conventional Athenian wisdom- In adopting the law of nature, Greek political theory also made the assumption that nature was inherently good. By consequence, the natural ends of the state and of humans were goodMeaning of Antigone:- Lines 62-63o Antigone subordinates human law to universal law, and implies that any human law that runs against the universal law is null and void, which justifies her acts in breaking Creon’s ‘unnatural’ law- Lines 146-153o Any ruler that does not promote the well-being of the people has no claim to authorityo Any individual who promotes private over public interests is useless and worthy of contempt- Lines 522-529o City’s strength its domestic ordero Ruler must always be obeyed if he believes he serves the common good, even if his laws would appear to be unjust- Lines 542-549o Reason is man’s highest faculty, no single man can lay claim to possess it exclusivelyo Good laws will follow from open discussion among rational men- Lines 593-599o Ruling without reason is akin to tyrannyo A king who rules without the common good in mind will destroy the cityo Cities prosper when the input of the people is securedSocrates:- Socrates refined Sophist humanism and married it with traditional political philosophy based upon the physical sciences- Chief legacy: virtue is