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Motivation in the Ancient Greek Ethos

Punishment, Shame, and Moral Guilt

Andrei G. Zavaliy

Motivation in the Ancient Greek Ethos: Punishment, Shame, and Moral Guilt explores motivational techniques that were utilized in the Ancient Greek culture (from Archaic to Classical periods) to channel the reluctant agent's behavior in a desirable direction. Structured around several types of "appeal to fear" strategies--including an appeal to fears of divine retribution, earthly punishment, public disgrace, or oblivion--, this book analyzes these strategies with regard to their efficiency, practical applicability, and normative priority. In addition, Andrei G. Zavaliy argues that towards the end of the Classical period of Greek history the repertoire of the standard motivational strategies was enriched by a new possibility: an appeal to fear of self-shaming and, in general, to fear of painful inner qualms as a consequence of misbehavior. The latter type of incentive was clearly present in Democritus and appeared somewhat tangentially in Plato but was emphatically restated by Aristotle. Zavaliy further suggests that the type of psychic discomfort experienced by a wrongdoer, according to Aristotle, is structurally similar to the "pangs of conscience" in the way this phenomenon was developed during the late Hellenistic period, and, this Aristotelian psychic discomfort can thus be reasonably correlated with the feeling of moral guilt.

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Lexington Books
Pages: 292 • Trim: 6½ x 9½
978-1-66692-054-3 • Hardback • December 2024 • $120.00 • (£92.00)
Subjects: Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy, Philosophy / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical, Psychology / Emotions

Andrei G. Zavaliy is professor of philosophy and department chair at American University of Kuwait.

Acknowledgments

List of Abbreviations

Introduction: The Value of Fear

Chapter 1. The Fear of Divine Punishment

Chapter 2. The Fear of Earthly Punishment

Chapter 3. The Fear of Oblivion

Chapter 4. The Fear of Disgrace

Chapter 5. The Fear of Self-Reproach

Conclusion: Fear, Persuasion and Duty

Bibliography

Index of Ancient Authors

About the Author

“Motivation in the Ancient Greek Ethos: Punishment, Shame, and Moral Guilt is a richly detailed, scholarly and enjoyable exploration of the role played by different forms of fear in moral motivation in ancient Greece will be of interest and value to students, specialists and general readers alike. In a wide-ranging and nuanced discussion informed by historical, poetic, and oratorical sources as well as philosophical texts, Andrei Zavaliy considers fear of divine and earthly punishment, oblivion, disgrace and self-reproach (critically asking whether the latter ever develops into something we might call conscience or guilt). Zavaliy's deep knowledge of ancient Greek culture as a whole makes this an important contribution to our understanding of the place of fear in its moral ethos and psychology.”


— Angie Hobbs, Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy, University Of Sheffield


Motivation in the Ancient Greek Ethos

Punishment, Shame, and Moral Guilt

Cover Image
Hardback
Summary
Summary
  • Motivation in the Ancient Greek Ethos: Punishment, Shame, and Moral Guilt explores motivational techniques that were utilized in the Ancient Greek culture (from Archaic to Classical periods) to channel the reluctant agent's behavior in a desirable direction. Structured around several types of "appeal to fear" strategies--including an appeal to fears of divine retribution, earthly punishment, public disgrace, or oblivion--, this book analyzes these strategies with regard to their efficiency, practical applicability, and normative priority. In addition, Andrei G. Zavaliy argues that towards the end of the Classical period of Greek history the repertoire of the standard motivational strategies was enriched by a new possibility: an appeal to fear of self-shaming and, in general, to fear of painful inner qualms as a consequence of misbehavior. The latter type of incentive was clearly present in Democritus and appeared somewhat tangentially in Plato but was emphatically restated by Aristotle. Zavaliy further suggests that the type of psychic discomfort experienced by a wrongdoer, according to Aristotle, is structurally similar to the "pangs of conscience" in the way this phenomenon was developed during the late Hellenistic period, and, this Aristotelian psychic discomfort can thus be reasonably correlated with the feeling of moral guilt.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 292 • Trim: 6½ x 9½
    978-1-66692-054-3 • Hardback • December 2024 • $120.00 • (£92.00)
    Subjects: Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy, Philosophy / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical, Psychology / Emotions
Author
Author
  • Andrei G. Zavaliy is professor of philosophy and department chair at American University of Kuwait.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Acknowledgments

    List of Abbreviations

    Introduction: The Value of Fear

    Chapter 1. The Fear of Divine Punishment

    Chapter 2. The Fear of Earthly Punishment

    Chapter 3. The Fear of Oblivion

    Chapter 4. The Fear of Disgrace

    Chapter 5. The Fear of Self-Reproach

    Conclusion: Fear, Persuasion and Duty

    Bibliography

    Index of Ancient Authors

    About the Author

Reviews
Reviews
  • “Motivation in the Ancient Greek Ethos: Punishment, Shame, and Moral Guilt is a richly detailed, scholarly and enjoyable exploration of the role played by different forms of fear in moral motivation in ancient Greece will be of interest and value to students, specialists and general readers alike. In a wide-ranging and nuanced discussion informed by historical, poetic, and oratorical sources as well as philosophical texts, Andrei Zavaliy considers fear of divine and earthly punishment, oblivion, disgrace and self-reproach (critically asking whether the latter ever develops into something we might call conscience or guilt). Zavaliy's deep knowledge of ancient Greek culture as a whole makes this an important contribution to our understanding of the place of fear in its moral ethos and psychology.”


    — Angie Hobbs, Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy, University Of Sheffield


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