The Roots of the Concept of Justice in Homer and Hesiod and Their Reflections on Plato

Year 2012, Issue: 13, 11 - 38, 01.05.2012

Özgüç Orhan

Abstract

This study examines the roots of justice and injustice in the works of the ancient Greek poets Homer and Hesiod. The understanding of justice in the Archaic period (750-490 B.C.E.) expressed through the terms themis and dike differ between Homer and Hesiod. The different functions attributed to these terms used by both poets can be explained through the different socio-economic conditions of the societies that these poets lived in and represented. Yet, injustice is represented by the term hubris in the works of both poets. Plato, who is known to have a close link with these poets, is critical of them in relation to the notion of justice on the one hand but employs their poetic language on the other. This paradox not only helps us understand Plato’s conception of justice but also Homer and Hesiod in this respect

Keywords

Justice, Ancient Greek, Homer, Hesiod, Plato, themis, dike, hubris, myth, poetry

HOMEROS ve HESİODOS’DA ADALET KAVRAMININ KÖKENLERİ ve PLATON’A YANSIMALARI

Abstract

Bu makale Eski Yunan şairleri Homeros ve Hesiodos’un eserlerinde “adalet” ve “adaletsizlik” kavramlarının kökenlerini incelemektedir. Arkaik dönemde themis ve dike terimleri üzerinden ifade edilen adalet anlayışı Homeros ve Hesiodos arasında farklılık gösterir. Hem Homeros’un hem de Hesiodos’un kullandığı bu terimlere yüklenen farklı işlevler bu şairlerin içinde yaşadıkları ve tasvir ettikleri toplumların sosyo-ekonomik koşulları ile açıklanabilir. Ancak “haksızlık” ortak bir şekilde her iki şairce de hubris olarak ifade edilir. Bu iki şairle yakın bir ilişkisi olduğu bilinen Platon bu şairleri adalet kavramı üzerinden eleştiriye tabi tutarken aynı zamanda onların şiirsel dilini kullanır. Bu paradoks Platon’un adalet anlayışına ışık tuttuğu gibi Homeros ve Hesiodos’u da bu açıdan daha iyi anlamamıza fırsat verir

Keywords

Adalet, Eski Yunan, Homeros, Hesiodos, Platon, themis, dike, hubris, mitos, şiir

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