Expert: Hank Hokamp - 12/10/2011

Question
I'm wondering whether you could help me in comparing the ethical stances of the Homeric Achilles and Diogenes the Cynic?

Answer
   Let's discuss Diogenes first, Matthew:

   Foremost for understanding the Cynic conception of ethics is that virtue is a life lived in accord with nature. Nature offers the clearest indication of how to live the good life, which is characterized by reason, self-sufficiency, and freedom. Social conventions, however, can hinder the good life by compromising freedom and setting up a code of conduct that is opposed to nature and reason. Conventions are not inherently bad; however, for the Cynic, conventions are often absurd and worthy of ridicule.

  The Cynics deride the attention paid to the Olympics, the “big thieves” who run the temples and are seen carrying away the “little thieves” who steal from them, politicians as well as the philosophers who attend their courts, fashion, and prayers for such things as fame and fortune.

   It has been suggested that Diogenes was an Epicurean, or a Skeptic. In favour of the view that he was an Epicurean, is the fact that he passionately defends Epicurus. He discusses Epicurus as being of high quality, and contains three long letters, written by Epicurus, which explain Epicurean doctrines.

  In favour of the view that he was a Skeptic, is the way in which he is impartial to all the schools in the manner of the ancient skeptics, and he carries the succession of the school further than the other schools. At one point, he even seems to refer to the Skeptics as "our school." On the other hand, most of these points can be explained by the way he uncritically copies from his sources. It is impossible to be certain that he adhered to any school, and he is usually more interested in biographical details than in philosophical doctrines.

         **************************

   For the first two thirds or so of the Iliad, Achilles seems to be out for number one. He has an external sense of honor, dependent on the respect others show him. Thus when Agamemnon deprives him of the captive woman who has been awarded to him as a prize, he feels dishonored and retaliates by refusing to fight, even going so far as to have his mother prevail on Zeus to allow the Trojans to get the upper hand in the war so that Achilles' side will see how badly it needs him. By Book 9, he's in such a huff that he even refuses Agamemnon's generous attempt at reconciliation.

   As the fighting continues, however, he feels some concern for the comrades he sees coming off the field wounded, and (seeming to forget that this outcome is part of Zeus's response to his request) he allows Patroclus to go into battle in his armor. Homer never explicitly tells us that, when Patroclus is killed by Hector, Achilles realizes that he himself has caused his friend's death; but from that moment on he seems to forget his grudge against Agamemnon and focuses on getting back into the fight and killing Hector. As he prepares to go forth in his new armor (Hector having taken his original armor off Patroclus' body), he is warned twice that he is destined to die soon after Hector, and both times he replies that it doesn't matter. He doesn't explicitly say that he owes it to Patroclus, but we can certainly infer that that's what he means. So at this point his sense of honor has become less a matter of the respect of others than of his ability to respect himself.

    Incidentally, Matthew, the fact that Hector is wearing Achilles' old armor at their climactic confrontation underlines the suicidal aspect of Achilles' avenging Patroclus. By killing Hector, he is removing the obstacle between himself and his death.

   Finally, after killing Hector, abusing his dead body, and throwing it on the trash heap to lie unburied, Achilles is made aware that the gods are losing patience with him; and when Hector's aged father comes to him in secret at night to offer ransom for Hector's body, Achilles not only accepts the offer but treats the old man kindly, saying that his own father may soon be in the same position regarding him. By now his "wrath," which is the theme of the Iliad, has run its course, and his sense of honor is almost entirely based on conscience. At the end of the Iliad, Achilles is still alive, but we seem to be given to understand that he will be killed once the truce for Hector's fuineral ends.

         ************************

    That's it from here, Matthew. Great, great question.

         HANK