Philosophy 219Philosophy 219

Pericles and the Founding FathersPericles and the Founding Fathers

Pericles' Funeral OrationPericles' Funeral Oration Pericles' Funeral OrationPericles' Funeral Oration is is

presented to us by the historian presented to us by the historian Thucydides in his classic Thucydides in his classic History History of the Peloponnesian Warof the Peloponnesian War..

Though Thucydides was alive Though Thucydides was alive (and perhaps present) at the time, (and perhaps present) at the time, we shouldn’t assume that this is a we shouldn’t assume that this is a transcript.transcript.

The occasion was an instance of The occasion was an instance of the time-honored practice of the time-honored practice of providing public funerals to providing public funerals to Athenian soldiers killed in battle. In Athenian soldiers killed in battle. In this case, for the Athenian dead this case, for the Athenian dead from the first year of the conflict from the first year of the conflict with Sparta.with Sparta.

The setting is the public sepulcher, The setting is the public sepulcher, Keramikos, just to the north of the Keramikos, just to the north of the Agora in Athens.Agora in Athens.

Who was Pericles?Who was Pericles? PericlesPericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) is (c. 495 – 429 BC) is

commonly acknowledged as commonly acknowledged as the greatest statesman of the greatest statesman of ancient Athens.ancient Athens.

He was the most prominent He was the most prominent citizen during what is known as citizen during what is known as Athens' “Golden Age.”Athens' “Golden Age.”

His primary contribution was to His primary contribution was to transform Athens into the transform Athens into the cultural and educational center cultural and educational center of the Greek world. He also led of the Greek world. He also led the construction of many of the construction of many of Athens’ most famous Athens’ most famous buildings, including the buildings, including the Parthenon.Parthenon.

What about Athens?What about Athens?

Though Athens in the 5th century BC can be Though Athens in the 5th century BC can be compared to many of our largest cities (particularly compared to many of our largest cities (particularly in terms of their size and cultural significance), the in terms of their size and cultural significance), the key to understanding its political situation is to key to understanding its political situation is to remember that it was a remember that it was a city-statecity-state..

The major Greek cities at the time where for the The major Greek cities at the time where for the most part independent political entities, with their most part independent political entities, with their own, unique political structures.own, unique political structures.

The Peloponnesian war pitted two quite different The Peloponnesian war pitted two quite different cities (and their allies and vassal cities) against each cities (and their allies and vassal cities) against each other: Athens and Sparta.other: Athens and Sparta.

Athens and SpartaAthens and Sparta

During this period, Sparta was an During this period, Sparta was an oligarchyoligarchy (rule by a (rule by a small, elite segment of the population), nominally led by small, elite segment of the population), nominally led by two hereditary kings, but actually ruled by a small group two hereditary kings, but actually ruled by a small group of aristocrats known as the of aristocrats known as the GerousiaGerousia..

Athens was a democracy, ruled by the citizens, Athens was a democracy, ruled by the citizens, organized into three bodies.organized into three bodies. The The EkklesiaEkklesia, or Assembly, which passed laws and made policy , or Assembly, which passed laws and made policy

decisions, was open to all citizens of Athens.decisions, was open to all citizens of Athens. The The BouleBoule, or Council of the 500, was charged with , or Council of the 500, was charged with

administering decisions made by the Ekklesia.administering decisions made by the Ekklesia. The The PrytaneisPrytaneis, or "Presidential Council," was a subcommittee of , or "Presidential Council," was a subcommittee of

the boule and charged with the daily affairs of the city.the boule and charged with the daily affairs of the city.

The OrationThe Oration

Though nominally a speech honoring the Though nominally a speech honoring the war dead, a lot more appears to be going war dead, a lot more appears to be going on in Pericles’ rhetoric.on in Pericles’ rhetoric.

What do you think is Pericles’ aim?What do you think is Pericles’ aim? http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Pericleshttp://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Pericles

%27s_Funeral_Oration_(Jowett)%27s_Funeral_Oration_(Jowett)

Athens and the U.S.Athens and the U.S.

What are the similarities that you noticed What are the similarities that you noticed between the description Pericles offered of between the description Pericles offered of Athens and our understanding of our Athens and our understanding of our nation?nation?

Any relevant differences?Any relevant differences?

The Oration and the DeclarationThe Oration and the Declaration

What about between the rhetoric of the What about between the rhetoric of the Oration and Jefferson’s in the Declaration Oration and Jefferson’s in the Declaration of Independence?of Independence?

What is the aim of Jefferson’s rhetoric?What is the aim of Jefferson’s rhetoric?

The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights

How are the ideals of the Declaration How are the ideals of the Declaration embodied in the Bill of Rights?embodied in the Bill of Rights?

Let’s take a look at each one and think Let’s take a look at each one and think about its significance.about its significance.