Spin, Democracy, Death “Old Oligarch,” Gorgias’ Epitaphios

Preview Old Oligarch Spins Democracy

Old Oligarch on Democracy “… I do not think well of their [having] chosen to let the worst people be better off than the good.” “Yet their policy is also excellent in this very point of allowing even the worst people to speak.”

OO Spins Democracy’s Positives Justice Right of the stronger (might as right) Appeal Pleasure (to hēdu) of the stronger 11-Nov 2012Old Oligarch et al.4

Agenda O’Regan on Clouds Finish up… Clouds Debate Good versus Bad Argument The “Old Oligarch” A New Spin on Democracy Class Project Democracy Respun 11-Nov 2012Old Oligarch et al.5

O’Regan on Clouds Finish up…

Clouds Debate Good versus Bad Argument

The “Old Oligarch” A New Spin on Democracy

Author, Genre, Speaker, Audience Author unknown (composed ca. 420s) Genre sophistic epideixis Speaker Athenian oligarch Audience non-Athenian anti-democrats 11-Nov 2012Old Oligarch et al.9

Comparison Shopping… Old Oligarch “I pardon the people themselves for their democracy. One must forgive everyone for looking after his own interests” “Whatever the delicacy (to hēdu, “pleasure”) in Sicily, [etc.], all these have been brought together into one place by virtue of naval power” Periclean Funeral Oration “In name, [our government] is called a democracy, because it is managed not for a few people, but for the majority” “The greatness of our city has caused all things from all parts of the earth to be imported here, so that we enjoy the products of other nations…” 11-Nov 2012Old Oligarch et al.10

Through a Lens… Despotic/oligarchic democracy? (Michels) “The preponderant elements of the movement, the men who lead and nourish it, end by undergoing a gradual detachment from the masses and are attracted within the orbit of the ‘political class’ ” (Political Parties) Charismatic democracy? (Weber) “… devotion to the exceptional sanctity, heroism or exemplary character of an individual person, and of the normative patterns or order revealed or ordained by him” (Economy and Society) Pragmatic democracy? (Finley) “What counts is that the people expected results and at times, sometimes for long periods, felt satisfied with them” (Ancient History) 11-Nov 2012Old Oligarch et al.11

Gorgias’ Epitaphios Epitaphic topoi, Gorgianic Figures

Epitaphic topoi The speaker’s challenge “May I find the power to say what I wish! May I find the wish to say what I must!” cf. Thuc Loss “... though they have died, the loss we feel has not.” cf. Pericles’ Samian Epitaphios The good death “their trophy of triumph, their gift to the god — the sacrifice of themselves.” cf. Thuc Nov 2012 Old Oligarch et al. 13

Gorgianic Figures Basic concept Colon – rhetorical unit Word repetition Anaphora – colon beginning Antistrophe – colon end Anastrophe – end/beginning Other figures Antithesis – contrast Homoioteleuton – end rhyme Isocolon/parisosis – same/similar-length successive cola Paronomasia – word play 11-Nov 2012Old Oligarch et al.14

Class Project Democracy Respun

Our epideixis.. 11-Nov 2012 Old Oligarch et al. 16