Law, Reconciliation and Philosophy : Athenian
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LAW, RECONCILIATION AND PHILOSOPHY : ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY AT THE END OF THE FIFTH CENTURY B.C. Juin-Lung Huang A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St. Andrews 2008 Full metadata for this item is available in the St Andrews Digital Research Repository at: https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/437 This item is protected by original copyright This item is licensed under a Creative Commons License Law, Reconciliation and Philosophy: Athenian Democracy at the End of the Fifth Century B.C. JUIN-LUNG HUANG This thesis is submitted to the School of International Relations of the University of St. Andrews in fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Submission Date: 18 th September 2007. Abstract The purpose of this thesis is to defend Athenian democracy against a long-established suspicion that the Athenian government, with its radical form of popular participation, was not only incompetent but also dangerous. There are two serious misunderstandings in this traditional view; one is the myth of the decline of Athens after the death of Pericles, the other being the outright denial of Athenian democracy by its philosophers, Xenophon and Plato. These two common presumptions about Athenian history and philosophy are therefore examined. The historical examination focuses on three important events: the law reform, the reconciliation and the trial of Socrates. All of them were conducted by Athenian democracy at the end of the fifth century B.C., a period of time that is often cited for the failure of democracy. However, it is found that the democracy demonstrated its excellent ability to manage political conflicts through the laws and the reconciliation. As to the infamous trial of Socrates, there were reasons for the popular suspicion of the Philosopher’s way of life. Following what we have learnt in the historical survey, we search for responses to the three events in the works of Xenophon and Plato. There are passages, though often dismissed by scholars, indicate remarkable recognition of the democratic achievements in domestic politics. As regards the trial of Socrates, there are also signs of second thoughts in their works that reveal understandings of the democracy’s condemnation of philosophy. The works of Socrates’ pupils show mixed evaluation rather than outright denial of Athenian democracy. i The traditional suspicion of Athenian democracy is therefore problematic due to its misconception of Athenian history and philosophy. ii I, Juin-lung Huang, received particular assistance in the writing of this thesis in respect of matters of style, idiom, grammar, syntax or spelling, which was provided by Roy and Margaret McGregor, Elizabeth Stitt, Pete Field, Neil Wright and Owen Pearse.” Date …… Signature of Candidate ……… I, Juin-lung Huang, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 100,000 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. Date …… Signature of Candidate ……… I was admitted as a research student in September 2003 and as a candidate for the degree of PhD in September 2004; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2003 and 2007. Date ………… Signature of Candidate ……… I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of PhD in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date ………… Signature of Supervisor ……… I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of PhD in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date ………… Signature of Supervisor ……… iii In submitting this thesis to the University of St Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker, that my thesis will be electronically accessible for personal or research use, and that the library has the right to migrate my thesis into new electronic forms as required to ensure continued access to the thesis. I have obtained any third-party copyright permissions that may be required in order to allow such access and migration. Date ………… Signature of Candidate ……… iv For a future Taiwan that is proud and independent. v Preface It was a foggy night in the early spring of 1988 in Taiwan when I heard of the death of the dictator, Chiang Ching-kuo. I was then a first-year college student in animal science, and was working late at the biological laboratory. ‘The President is dead!’ someone brought in the unexpected news. ‘Great - at last!’ was the first thought in my mind. However, though it was my secret wish come true, I was at that time too young to realize the obvious fact that all people die, even a dictator who is either loved as a god or feared as a devil due to his seemingly omnipotent power. When we returned to our dormitory, one of our roommates was mourning deeply for the passing away of ‘the Great Leader’. There was confusion and even a hint of anger in his eyes when he saw that most of us, rather than joining in with his mourning, appeared indifferent to the death of his beloved Leader. I actually tried hard to keep my joy to myself, fully respectful of his notorious hot temper and gorilla-like build. Taiwan was a totalitarian country until its slow transformation into a democracy during the 1990s. Before that, Chiang Kai-shek and his Party had firm control over most aspects of people’s lives. A photo of Chiang Kai-shek hung in every classroom throughout the whole country, smiling at you like a most loving grandfather. It was a smile that I found years later again in a photo of Stalin. There was of course no freedom of speech, and people became ignorant of the reality of their situation. I struggled in my school years to put into my head the five thousand years of Chinese history, from its mythical beginnings to the glorious era of Chiang Kai-shek and his son, having not the least idea of the tens of thousands of Taiwanese killed by Chiang’s party only a few decades previously during its vi suppression of a popular revolt, a memory that Taiwanese parents considered too dangerous to pass on to their children. In that era of terror when people were educated to be ignorant, western political thought, especially its liberal tradition, was a main ideological weapon against the Party’s systematic and repetitive indoctrination. 1 I took in the words of John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, John S. Mill and other western liberal thinkers, as if they were the antidote to the Party’s authoritarian doctrine that I had to learn to pass exams and had allowed to poison my soul. So began my journey into the history of western political thought. An intellectual pursuit like mine brought about by traumatic experience may eventually bring out some relief from pain, or catharsis. Yet, there will be no pleasure of knowledge that might be obtained from detached observation, as in the study of heavenly bodies, the evolution of life and other wonders of Nature. Which one of them is worthier of pursuit? Well, I am a person who often thinks that the grass is greener on the other side. It is also ironical that, in search of freedom in the western intellectual tradition, what I often encountered was a well-established suspicion of popular participation that reminded me of the Party’s anti-democratic rhetoric. Presented in the thesis is a product of near twenty years’ trial and error. I am happy with the progress I have made in the last four years at St Andrews, and believe that this thesis has something to offer to the study of political ideas. Ancient Greek political history and thought is probably one of the most difficult subjects for a student from a non-European background. I am grateful for the help I have received 1 Liberalism was tolerated to a limited extent perhaps because of Taiwan’s alliance with the U.S. in the cold war. vii from many people in both Taiwan and St Andrews. Professors Ying-wen Tsai, Yi-huah Jiang and Carl K.T. Shaw are leading scholars of western political thought in Taiwan. My thanks are due to their academic training that introduced me to the theoretical study of politics. The lectures and discussions in their classrooms are memories I will cherish for life. Special thanks are also due to Professors Tsai and Jiang for their financial support when it was most needed. I would also like to thank Dr. Vasileios Vagios for his teaching of ancient Greek language and culture, in particular Aristophanes’ comedies, that opened my eyes to another fascinating aspect of Greek culture than the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle. It was my great good fortune to have the help of Professor Christopher Smith throughout my years at St Andrews.