Ancient Aesthetics of Deception: The Ethics of Enchantment from Gorgias to Heliodorus

Jonas Grethlein's book explores the concept of apatē in Greek literature, arguing that it was an important strand of reflection focused on the nuanced idea of deception and aesthetics. It offers a bold new history of ancient aesthetics and explores the present significance of the aesthetics of deception for current debates on the ethical dimension of representation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 332 pages
Publication date: 16 September 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The concept of mimesis has long dominated the study of representation in Greek literature. In his groundbreaking new book, Jonas Grethlein takes this reflection to a whole new level. He argues that there was an important but overlooked strand of reflection that focused on the nuanced idea of apatē, which is often translated into English as deceit. This concept oscillated between notions of deception and aesthetic illusion, and was used by many authors from Gorgias and Plato to Philo, Plutarch, and Clement of Alexandria to intertwine aesthetics with ethics.

Grethlein's book is a bold exploration of the various reconfigurations of apatē and their socio-historical contexts. By placing these reconfigurations in their proper context, the book offers a fresh and innovative history of ancient aesthetics. It also delves into the present significance of the aesthetics of deception, unlocking the potential of ancient reflection for contemporary debates on the ethical dimension of representation. This book will appeal to scholars in both classics and literary theory, as it provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of this important topic.

Weight: 624g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316518816