The Virtue of Agency: Sophrosune and Self-Constitution in Classical Greece

Sôphrosunê is the often-forgotten sibling of justice, wisdom, courage, and piety in discussions of canonical Greek virtues. It was the object of significant debate during the classical period, and Christopher Moore interprets it as a commitment to norm-following. This perspective explains its inclusion in Plato's canon of virtues, its frequent appearance in funerary inscriptions, elegiac poetry, tragic drama, and historiography, and the analytic attention given to it by Heraclitus, the Sophists, the historians, Socrates, Xenophon, and Plato.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 16 July 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Sôphrosunê, often overlooked in discussions of canonical Greek virtues, holds a significant place alongside justice, wisdom, courage, and piety. In his book, Christopher Moore delves into the profound debate surrounding this virtue during the classical period. He demonstrates that sôphrosunê was not merely a parodic moralizing or political propaganda but a profound exploration of human agency. These discussions delve into the question of how we can become fully responsible for our actions.

Greek thinking about sôphrosunê evolved into a contemplation of self-constitution, our ability to act based on the general reasons we identify with as our own. This perspective sheds light on sôphrosunê's inclusion in Plato's canon of virtues and its frequent appearance in various forms of literature, including funerary inscriptions, elegiac poetry, tragic drama, and historiography. It also explains the analytical attention paid to it by figures such as Heraclitus, the Sophists, historians, Socrates, Xenophon, and Plato.

While Moore primarily focuses on the classical period, the book also includes chapters addressing earlier poetry and two gender-sensitive post-classical works. An appendix provides an overview of the epigraphic material related to sôphrosunê. For the Greeks (and perhaps for us), sôphrosunê represents a virtue of agency, an acquired capacity to be guided by what is truly best. It goes beyond mere reticence and reserve to encompass the essence of our authentic selves.

In conclusion, sôphrosunê is a virtue that deserves greater recognition and exploration. Through the lens of agency, it offers a profound understanding of human responsibility and self-discovery. By engaging with this forgotten sibling of justice, wisdom, courage, and piety, we can deepen our understanding of what it means to live a virtuous and fulfilling life.

Weight: 682g
Dimension: 163 x 244 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197663509