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@article{ART002018440},
author={Heon KIM},
title={Isocrates’ Panhellenism},
journal={Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University},
issn={1598-3021},
year={2015},
volume={72},
number={3},
pages={45-77},
doi={10.17326/jhsnu.72.3.201508.45}

TY - JOUR
AU - Heon KIM
TI - Isocrates’ Panhellenism
JO - Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University
PY - 2015
VL - 72
IS - 3
PB - Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University
SP - 45
EP - 77
SN - 1598-3021
AB - In the fourth century BC, Isocrates advocated so-called panhellenism as the most effective way to overcome the crisis with which Greeks were faced at that time. His panhellenism mainly consists of two parts: (1) Greeks have to put an end to mutual rivalries and to achieve a unity among themselves, (2) Greeks have to go on a military expedition in order to wage a war against the barbarians (=Persians). This paper aims to clarify the relation between the two parts of Isocrates’ panhellenism. In general, panhellenism was born and developed as a result of the Persian invasions in the fifth century BC. The enmity against Persians made Greeks united as one. Furthermore, Greeks designed a panhellenic expedition for the purpose of conquering the Persian Empire. This political vision was succeeded by Isocrates and finally was accomplished by Alexander the Great, the Macedon King. Isocrates considered the Greeks not simply as a ethnic community but rather as an ideological community formed by an education that could make its members have a concord or ‘oneness of mind (homonoia)’. In this view, hellenistic spiritual and mental factors such as philosophy, language, religion, mythology, history, tradition, law and political constitute were considered more valuable than ethical identity for being a Greek. The thought that such Hellenistic factors are universal and essential for all mankind should result in the sense of duty to hellenize all the barbarians. Consequently the panhellenism would consist not only of the unification of Greeks, but also of the military expedition to the Persian Empire justifying it as a necessary enterprise for civilization and enlightenment of the barbarians. On the other hand, during the fifth and forth centuries there were also critical attitudes to the imperialistic panhellenism. For instance, Plato, the most important philosophical rival of Isocrates tried to design a ideal polis with a moderate size. That means a critique to Isocratic panhellenism. On the other hand, the tragic poet Aeschylus and historian Herodotus seriously altered the tragical ending of imperialistic expansion by showing the example of Persian War.
KW - Isocrates;panhellenism;concord;eastward expedition;empire;imperialism;civilization
DO - 10.17326/jhsnu.72.3.201508.45
ER -

Heon KIM. (2015). Isocrates’ Panhellenism. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 72(3), 45-77.

Heon KIM. 2015, "Isocrates’ Panhellenism", Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, vol.72, no.3 pp.45-77. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.72.3.201508.45

Heon KIM "Isocrates’ Panhellenism" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 72.3 pp.45-77 (2015) : 45.

Heon KIM. Isocrates’ Panhellenism. 2015; 72(3), 45-77. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.72.3.201508.45

Heon KIM. "Isocrates’ Panhellenism" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 72, no.3 (2015) : 45-77.doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.72.3.201508.45

Heon KIM. Isocrates’ Panhellenism. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 72(3), 45-77. doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.72.3.201508.45

Heon KIM. Isocrates’ Panhellenism. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University. 2015; 72(3) 45-77. doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.72.3.201508.45

Heon KIM. Isocrates’ Panhellenism. 2015; 72(3), 45-77. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.72.3.201508.45

Heon KIM. "Isocrates’ Panhellenism" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 72, no.3 (2015) : 45-77.doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.72.3.201508.45