Persuasion in Ancient Greece

Catalog description

“Peitho” is the Greek word for persuasion, the influencing of human thought and action in the political, judicial, and even sexual realms. Yet peitho - Greek persuasion - involved a lot more than words designed to change minds. It was, in fact, a central yet ambivalent feature of ancient Greek culture. After a survey of persuasion’s place in Greek religion, myth, and art, students will narrow their focus on politics and rhetoric, with special attention to the development of a speech-based democracy in classical Athens. Readings, lecture, discussion, online journals, papers, oral presentations, short quizzes. Offered every other year.