Untangling Heroism

Classical Philosophy and the Concept of the Hero

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Political, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Politics, History & Theory
Cover of the book Untangling Heroism by Ari Kohen, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Ari Kohen ISBN: 9781317964575
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: October 15, 2013
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Ari Kohen
ISBN: 9781317964575
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: October 15, 2013
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

The idea of heroism has become thoroughly muddled today. In contemporary society, any behavior that seems distinctly difficult or unusually impressive is classified as heroic: everyone from firefighters to foster fathers to freedom fighters are our heroes. But what motivates these people to act heroically and what prevents other people from being heroes? In our culture today, what makes one sort of hero appear more heroic than another sort?

In order to answer these questions, Ari Kohen turns to classical conceptions of the hero to explain the confusion and to highlight the ways in which distinct heroic categories can be useful at different times. Untangling Heroism argues for the existence of three categories of heroism that can be traced back to the earliest Western literature – the epic poetry of Homer and the dialogues of Plato – and that are complex enough to resonate with us and assist us in thinking about heroism today. Kohen carefully examines the Homeric heroes Achilles and Odysseus and Plato’s Socrates, and then compares the three to each other. He makes clear how and why it is that the other-regarding hero, Socrates, supplanted the battlefield hero, Achilles, and the suffering hero, Odysseus. Finally, he explores in detail four cases of contemporary heroism that highlight Plato’s success.

Kohen states that in a post-Socratic world, we have chosen to place a premium on heroes who make other-regarding choices over self-interested ones. He argues that when humans face the fact of their mortality, they are able to think most clearly about the sort of life they want to have lived, and only in doing that does heroic action become a possibility. Kohen’s careful analysis and rethinking of the heroism concept will be relevant to scholars across the disciplines of political science, philosophy, literature, and classics.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The idea of heroism has become thoroughly muddled today. In contemporary society, any behavior that seems distinctly difficult or unusually impressive is classified as heroic: everyone from firefighters to foster fathers to freedom fighters are our heroes. But what motivates these people to act heroically and what prevents other people from being heroes? In our culture today, what makes one sort of hero appear more heroic than another sort?

In order to answer these questions, Ari Kohen turns to classical conceptions of the hero to explain the confusion and to highlight the ways in which distinct heroic categories can be useful at different times. Untangling Heroism argues for the existence of three categories of heroism that can be traced back to the earliest Western literature – the epic poetry of Homer and the dialogues of Plato – and that are complex enough to resonate with us and assist us in thinking about heroism today. Kohen carefully examines the Homeric heroes Achilles and Odysseus and Plato’s Socrates, and then compares the three to each other. He makes clear how and why it is that the other-regarding hero, Socrates, supplanted the battlefield hero, Achilles, and the suffering hero, Odysseus. Finally, he explores in detail four cases of contemporary heroism that highlight Plato’s success.

Kohen states that in a post-Socratic world, we have chosen to place a premium on heroes who make other-regarding choices over self-interested ones. He argues that when humans face the fact of their mortality, they are able to think most clearly about the sort of life they want to have lived, and only in doing that does heroic action become a possibility. Kohen’s careful analysis and rethinking of the heroism concept will be relevant to scholars across the disciplines of political science, philosophy, literature, and classics.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Singapore, the Energy Economy by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Digital Advertising by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Britain, the Hashemites and Arab Rule by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book The Origin of Our Knowledge of Right and Wrong (Routledge Revivals) by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book The Epistolary Novel by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Implementing Social Europe in Times of Crises by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Designing for Newspapers and Magazines by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book The Death of Progressive Education by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Hecataeus and the Egyptian Priests in Herodotus, Book 2 by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Asian Security Handbook by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Identities and Allegiances in the Eastern Mediterranean after 1204 by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Cultural Models of Nature by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Looking Beyond Borderlines by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Napoleon by Ari Kohen
Cover of the book Poli Sci Fi by Ari Kohen
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy