Ethics in Aesop's fables : the Augustana collection / by Christos A. Zafiropoulos.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zafiropoulos, Christos A.

Series:

Mnemosyne, bibliotheca classica Batava. Supplementum 0169-8958 ; 216.

Mnemosyne, bibliotheca classica Batava. Supplementum, 0169-8958 ; 216

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Aesop's fables.

Fables, Greek--History and criticism.

Fables, Greek.

Ethics, Ancient, in literature.

Physical Description:

xiv, 202 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2001.

Contents:

I. The Greek Fable 1

I.1 Definition and Characteristics of the Greek Fable 1

I.2 History and Function of the Greek Fable 10

I.2.1 The Term 'Aesopic' 10

I.2.2 History and Function of the Greek Fable: The Archaic and Classical Periods 12

1.2.3 History and Function of the Greek Fable: From the Hellenistic Period to Late Antiquity 19

I.3 The Ethics of the Greek Fable 26

I.3.1 Scholarly Approaches to the Ethical Content of the Greek Fable 26

I.3.2 Theoretical Perspectives and the Project of this Book 36

II. Conflict in the Augustana Fables 45

II.1 The Agon in the Augustana 45

II.1.1 The Theme of the Agon in Greece 45

II.1.2 The Agon in the Augustana 48

II.2 Lessons on Survival 52

II.3 The Fulfilment of Personal Interest 57

II.3.1 The Need for Immediate Action and the Issue of [characters not reproducible] 57

II.3.2 Custom 62

II.4 Learning through Suffering and the Theme of Toil 65

II.4.1 Learning through Suffering 65

II.4.2 The Theme of Toil 69

II.5 Respect Your Limits 71

III. Reciprocity in the Augustana 81

III.1 The Norm of Reciprocity 81

III.2 Reciprocity in the Augustana 86

III.2.1 Amicable Reciprocity: Friendship and Alliances 86

III.2.2 Political Fables 98

III.2.3 Reciprocity and Economic Life 107

III.2.4 Hostile Reciprocity 114

III.3 Factors that Control the Function of Positive Reciprocity 117

III.3.1 Justice 117

III.3.2 Internalized Sanctions 119

III.3.3 Internalized Sanctions: Gratitude 123

III.3.4 External Sanctions: Supplication and Respect of the Suppliants 128

III.3.5 External Sanctions: Divine Punishment and Other Non-Human Forces (Fate, Chance) 133

III.3.6 External Sanctions: The Power of Others 141

IV. The Fable as a Form of Ethical Reasoning 146

IV.1 The Inner Qualities in the Augustana 147

IV.1.1 Inner Qualities with Disastrous Effects 147

IV.1.2 The Dispositions of the Figures of the Fables 157

IV.1.3 Inner Qualities with Ambivalent Effects: Cunning and Persuasion 160

IV.1.4 Inner Qualities with Positive Effects 170

IV.1.5 Responsibility and Cognitive Indications Behind the Protagonist's Actions 175.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [185]-195) and index.

ISBN:

9004118675

OCLC:

45821167