The emergence of reflexivity in Greek language and thought : from Homer to Plato and beyond / by Edward T. Jeremiah.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jeremiah, Edward T.

Series:

Philosophia antiqua ; v. 129.

Philosophia antiqua

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Greek language--Reflexives.

Greek language.

Greek language--Style.

Self (Philosophy)--Greece--History.

Self (Philosophy).

Philosophy, Ancient.

History.

Greece.

Physical Description:

xvi, 300 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2012.

Summary:

This monograph by Jeremiah (classics, U. of Melbourne, Australia) argues that "the development of heavily marked reflexive pronouns in Ancient Greek is linked to changing notions of the self, and that the formation of reflexive concepts using the pronominal system contributed in an important way to the thought and culture of Greek society." He supports this argument by way of comparison with similar, well-documented grammaticalization processes in English and other languages, suggesting that the addition of an intensifier to a personal pronoun marked an extension of, and alternative to, the middle reflexivity inherited from Proto-Indo-European. This linguistic development of middle reflexivity evolving into heavy reflexivity, he argues, allowed the Greeks to form such importantly reflexive concepts as political autonomy, self-respect, care of self, and conscience. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Notes:

"The leading claim of this monograph is that the development of heavily marked reflexive pronouns in Ancient Greek is linked to changing notions of self"--Abstract, p. [xv].

Includes bibliographical references (pages [269]-281) and indexes.

ISBN:

9789004221956

9004221956

9789004225152

9004225153

OCLC:

769473555