Xenophon of Athens: A Socratic on Sparta

Description

Xenophon of Athens (c. 430-354 BCE) has long been considered an uncritical admirer of Sparta who hero-worships the Spartan King Agesilaus and eulogises Spartan practices in his Lacedaimoniôn Politeia. By examining his own self-descriptions - especially where he portrays himself as conversing with Socrates and falling short in his appreciation of Socrates' advice - this book finds in Xenophon's overall writing project a Socratic response to his exile and situates his writings about Sparta within this framework. It presents a detailed reading of the Lacedaimoniôn Politeia as a critical and philosophical examination of Spartan socio-cultural practices. Evidence from his own Hellenica, Anabasis and Agesilaus is shown to confirm Xenophon's analysis of the weaknesses in the Spartan system, and that he is not enamoured of Agesilaus. Finally, a comparison with contemporary Athenian responses to Sparta, shows remarkable points of convergence with his fellow Socratic Plato, as well as connections with Isocrates too. 01.0_pp_i_iv_Frontmatter 02.0_pp_v_vi_Dedication 03.0_pp_vii_viii_Contents 04.0_pp_ix_xii_Preface 05.0_pp_xiii_xiii_Note_on_Spelling_Conventions 06.0_pp_xiv_xiv_List_of_Abbreviations 07.0_pp_xv_xxx_Introduction 08.0_pp_1_2_Part_I 08.1_pp_3_39_Xenophon_and_His_Literary_Project 08.2_pp_40_80_The_Lacedaimonion_Politeia_Theories_Problems_and_Assumptions 09.0_pp_81_82_Part_II 09.1_pp_83_125_Reading_Lacedaimonion_Politeia_14 09.2_pp_126_162_Reading_Lacedaimonion_Politeia_510 09.3_pp_163_202_Reading_Lacedaimonion_Politeia_1115 10.0_pp_203_204_Part_III 10.1_pp_205_246_The_Place_of_the_Lacedaimonion_Politeia_within_Xenophons_Literary_Project 10.2_pp_247_284_Xenophon_Plato_and_Isocrates 10.3_pp_285_290_Conclusion 11.0_pp_291_331_Text_and_Translation_of_the_Lacedaimonion_Politeia 12.0_pp_332_355_Bibliography 13.0_pp_356_361_Index_Locorum 14.0_pp_362_368_General_Index