Book Reviews and Miscellaneous
Book and Lecture Reviews of Ancient Greek History and Philosophy
Since we seek to draw moral lessons from history, we favor the Lives of Great Greeks and Romans by Plutarch. […]
Plutarch
AntiSemitism
Our Reflections on Morality, Philosophy, and History: Ancient and Modern Classics
To a Stoic Philosopher, the question of Theodicy, or why God permits bad things to happen to good people, why God permits suffering, is simply absurd. The fact is, we do suffer, we will face injustices, we will suffer illnesses and death, and the rain falls on both the good man and the bad man. God will not shield us from suffering and injustice, but God will provide us with the strength to endure the challenges of this life. […]
Greek and Roman History
Mighty Deeds of Theseus, First King of Athens, in Plutarch’s Lives
Theseus and Romulus both built mighty cities, Athens and Rome, both are warriors sprung from the gods, “both stand charged with the rape of women, neither could avoid domestic misfortunes nor jealousy at home.” Plutarch passes down us what he finds, and he found mostly stories of our hero Theseus […]
Greek and Roman History
Draco, Solon, and Cleisthenes, Democracy and Justice in Ancient Greece
Homer’s Odyssey depict the deep Greek past where might makes right, where brave soldiers fight for justice, where grievances and murders are settled by blood feuds. As Greek emerged from its Dark Ages in the seventh century, the Greeks in Athens sought to establish a more systematic system of justice with laws governing the state. Draco was appointed by the ruling aristocracy to be a lawmaker to codify new laws to replace justice by feuds, now the Senate of the Areopagus would hear cases of homicide. […]