Wounded Heroes: Vulnerability as a Virtue in Ancient Greek Literature and PhilosophyIn this book, McCoy examines how Greek epic, tragedy, and philosophy have important insights to offer about the nature of human vulnerability, which is central to the human experience. While studies of Greek heroism and virtue often focus on strength of character, prowess in war, or the achievement of honour, McCoy examines another side to Greek thought that extols the recognition and proper acceptance of vulnerability, or the capacity to be wounded. Beginning with the literary works of Homer's Iliad, Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Philoctetes, she expands her analysis to philosophical works where she analyses imagery of wounding in Plato's Gorgias and Symposium, as well as Aristotle's work on the vulnerability inherent in friendship. McCoy aims at deepening our understanding of the virtues of vulnerability for individuals and societies alike, and offers an innovative interpretation of tragic catharsis as a means for society to expand on its vision of itself and the vulnerable within in the community. |
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ability Achilles action Agamemnon Alcibiades Antigone argues Aristotle Aristotle’s Athenian Athens audience aware Beauty become beloved body Callicles Cambridge character Charmides city’s çغßÆ creative Creon death desire dialogue Diotima’s speech ðüºØò emotional emphasizes eros Ethics example experience father fear feelings forms friendship gods Gorgias Greek harm Hektor Herakles Homer honour human vulnerability Iliad imagination individual insofar îÝíïò judgement kind lack larger life’s limits living loss lover man’s meaning medicine memory Menelaos moral myth narrative nature Neoptolemus Nussbaum Odysseus Oedipus at Colonus Oedipus Rex ŒÜŁÆæóØò one’s ºüªïò Oxford pain particular Patroklos person Philoctetes philosophy pity Plato’s play Poetics political community polluted possess possibility presents Priam question reality relationship response role says seems sense shared significant Simoeis social Socrates Sophocles soul story suffering suggests Symposium takes Teiresias Theseus tragedy tragic Trojans Troy truth understanding University Press unjust virtue virtuous words wounded Zeus