Seminar from December 15, 1982

This chapter continues the discussion of Homer, arguing that the poems contain a deep sense of the tragic. Admitting that the study of Homer inevitably requires taking account of what would emerge later in history, Castoriadis focuses on the significance of the Homeric conception of moira , which he links closely to the idea of limits and death. Castoriadis discusses the importance of a chosen death, emphasizing Odysseus’s choice against the prospect of immortality offered by Calypso. Here, Castoriadis highlights the coexistence of an impersonal law with the free decision of the human and discusses more broadly the concepts of individuality, decision, and will in the Greek world. He closes by arguing that there is, in Homer, a distinct sense of impartiality in the way the poems treat opposing forces. In question-and-answer, Castoriadis returns to the theme of will and choice and puzzles over the enigmatic place of Sparta relative to the seminars’ themes.

Art · Epistemology · Immortality · Impartiality · Literature · Poetry · Theme (computing) · Theology · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classical Philosophy and Thought · Computer Science · Philosophy