Reciprocity in Ancient GreeceChristopher Gill, Norman Postlethwaite, Richard Seaford In this collection of new essays, an international group of experts explores the significance of reciprocity (the principle and practice of voluntary requital, of benefit for benefit or harm for harm) in ancient Greek culture. Reciprocity has been seen as an important notion for anthropologists studying economic and social relations. A key question has been whether reciprocity constitutes an alternative pattern to the commercial, political, and ethical relationships characteristic of modern Western society. This volume takes the question forward in connection with Greek culture from Homer to the Hellenistic period. Building on previous research on this topic (especially on Homeric society), it provides a wide-ranging examination of reciprocity inGreek epic and drama, historiography, oratory, religion, and ethical philosophy. It asks fundamental questions about the importance of reciprocity in different phases of Greek history, the interplay between reciprocity and the ideology of Athenian democracy, and between reciprocity and altruism in ethical thought. Clear and non-technical, with all Greek translated, this volume will make debate on this important subject available to a wide circle of readers in classical, literary, anthropological, and historical studies. |
Contents
Notes on Contributors ix | 11 |
Reciprocity in Anthropological | 13 |
Odysseus | 51 |
The AkhilleusPriam Scene | 73 |
Generalized Reciprocity | 93 |
Reciprocity in Greek Religion | 105 |
The Reciprocity of Giving and Thanksgiving in Greek | 127 |
Problematic Reciprocity in Greek | 139 |
Reciprocal Generosity in the Foreign Affairs of Fifth | 181 |
The Rhetoric of Reciprocity in Classical Athens | 227 |
Reciprocity and | 255 |
Reciprocity and Friendship | 279 |
Altruism or Reciprocity in Greek Ethical Philosophy? | 303 |
Bibliography | 329 |
357 | |
364 | |
Other editions - View all
Reciprocity in Ancient Greece Christopher Gill,Norman Postlethwaite,Richard Seaford Limited preview - 1998 |
Reciprocity in Ancient Greece Christopher Gill,Norman Postlethwaite,Richard Seaford Limited preview - 1998 |
Common terms and phrases
Agamemnon Aias aidôs Aiskhylos Akhilleus Alkibiades altruism ancient Ancient Greece argued Aristotle Aristotle's Athenian Athens behaviour benefit Cambridge central cited claim Classical Athens commodity context contrast cultural democracy democratic dêmos Demosthenes Donlan economic epic ethical commitment ethics of reciprocity Euripides Eurylochos example father favour friends friendship generosity gifts Gill give gods Gouldner Greek harm Hektor Hellenistic Herodotos hetairoi Homeric honour human idea Iliad Isokrates Kambyses kharis khorêgos kills kinship liturgies Malinowski Menander Menander's Millett modern moral motivation mutual norms obligations Odysseus offerings Oidipous one's other-benefiting Oxford Panionios pathê Patroklos Persian philia philoi philosophy plays Plutarch Polanyi polis political prayer Priam Prisoner's Dilemma procity reci reciprocal exchange relations relationship role sacrifice Sahlins Seaford sense social ideals society Sokrates solidarity Sophokles Spartan speech strategy suppliant supplication Thukydides tion tragedy trierarch wealth xenia xenoi Zanker Zeus καὶ