Achilles in the Iliad performs his role in the army according to the values and practices of a free and equal citizen in the historically later polis. From this perspective, this First Friday Lecture argued that his choices may be illumined by the analysis of the polis in Aristotle’s Politics. In Aristotelean terms, Achilles complains that Agamemnon has violated the reciprocal equality of “ruling and being ruled in turn,” on which the army’s provisional government depends. Previously, Achilles could submit to Agamemnon, and feel nevertheless non-dominated, because he conceived himself as voluntarily upholding his side of an agreement into which he entered freely and on terms. He experiences the violation of these terms as an attempt to dominate him outright and deprive him of his freedom and equality. Moreover, he condemns Agamemnon’s leadership ability in the same terms used by Aristotle to articulate the idea of the “natural slave.”
David Rubenstein on 250 Years of American Civic Virtue
The University of Chicago Graham School welcomed philanthropist, investor, and civic leader David Rubenstein for a thought-provoking Bowe Stewart Lecture exploring the importance of civic education, public service, and preserving America’s history. Drawing on stories from his remarkable career, David shared how a lifelong commitment to public service has shaped his philanthropic work, from helping…...
