Free Speech and Democracy in Ancient Athens

by Arlene W. Saxonhouse

Free speech in the ancient democracy was not a protected right but an expression of the freedom from hierarchy, awe, reverence and shame. That freedom was challenged by the consequences of the rejection of shame (aidos) which had served as a cohesive force within the polity. Through readings of Socrates's trial, Greek tragedy and comedy, Thucydides's History, and Plato's Protagoras, this volume explores the paradoxical connections between free speech, democracy, shame, and Socratic philosophy and Thucydidean history.

Genres: History, Politics

246 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2001

Reviews

[Waris Ahmad Faizi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting!

An engaging and insightful investigation into the relationship between free speech and democracy in both ancient Athenian and contemporary discourse.

By examining the theoretical relationship between free speech and democracy within the ancient Athenian context we can open up alternative interpretive paths, gaining not only new perspectives on ancient authors but also innovative approaches to contemporary issues and dilemmas.

Saxonhouse argues that there is a theoretical link between free speech and democracy in their common rejection of shame: free speech involves a rejection of shame as a limit to what one can say, while democracy, for Saxonhouse, involves a rejection of deference to hierarchy and the limiting chains of the past.