Duke Kunshan University Professor Lindsay Rathnam worked with “Ideas,” a Canadian public broadcast series, and the second part of their collaboration came out this September. Professor Rathnam and other academics discussed Herodotus and how the ancient Greek thinker helps us understand contemporary politics. It is a wonderful podcast, especially useful for those who are unfamiliar with political philosophy.
In times like this, people might look into the past to find answers to our problems. What better way to do this than through the teachings of Herodotus? Those interested can access the two episodes through the links below.
First episode: Herodotus: The Power and Peril of Story
Second episode: Herodotus: Eros and Tyranny
· · · On Political Theory · · ·
Political theory, “much to people’s annoyance,” does not tell people what to think or what the right answer is because there is not one fundamental answer. What political theorists do is bring to the forefront the values, attachments and understanding of politics that we are not often aware of because they are deeply embedded in us. They do this in order to examine and think about them. It is actually hard because we take them for granted.
Political theorists utilise different methods. Professor Rathnam’s is the History of political thought, “not because the past has the right answer, but because ancient thought and the history of thought can help us see our own politics differently with the help of people who have been noticing and thinking about politics for a long time but in slightly different ways from us.” Political theorists, therefore, do not teach answers, they teach problems so that students can be more informed with the wisdom of ages that they can bring into their lives, not because the past was right, but because it can be illuminating for them.
· · · Herodotus: The Power and Peril of Story · · ·
In the first episode, we learn more about the motives and research methods of Herodotus, the Ancient Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BCE. His many travels in the Mediterranean and beyond contributed greatly to his interest in humans and their accomplishments. The Persian war and its aftermath notably led him to research the civilisations of his time, with the ultimate quest of understanding how cultures view themselves, what makes empires flourish, and what causes war.
Herorotus was a storyteller. He gathered stories from around the world, from Greeks and non-Greeks, so that they are not erased by the cruel hands of time. His magnum opus, “Historie” (The Histories), therefore encapsulates all events, achievements, and differences of humankind. The term “historie” holds great significance. It is a high level word for inquiry which is related to science, meaning that Herodotus considers his work modern and up to date.
Furthermore, before Herodotus, the great epics were written in poetry because it was the medium endorsed and inspired by the Gods. In contrast, “Historie” is a work of unassisted human reason that relies on his spirit of inquiry. On this spirit of inquiry, Professor Rathnam states: “Herodotus tells a story because he does a performance of his inquiry, a fascinating thought-provoking story that asks readers to judge it along as he goes. The stories that he tells reveal what people think about the political world, and that can tell us things about the nature of politics today.”
What makes Herodotus an interesting author is indeed his view that if you are detached and neutral in your storytelling, then you are definitely doing it wrong. In addition, he is willing to admit the limits of his knowledge. He makes it clear that he does not vouch for the stories and he is retelling them as he sees them. This podcast episode focuses on the stories of Arion, Cyrus the Great, and Solon and Croesus.
The story of Arion is about the miraculous power of art and nature. Betrayed by the people he hired as sailors, Arion sings his last song and throws himself into the sea. He is saved by a dolphin who heard him sing and manages to bring his conationals to justice in the end. Professor Rathnam underscores that “Herodotus was an outsider who would both praise and condemn people.” In his greatest moment of peril, Arion is saved by his art, by beauty. Herodotus does not claim that it is true, but there is something that appeals to his audience that art can save people from humanity’s cruelty.
Solon and Croesus were two people with different views on happiness. Croesus thought that happiness lies in wealth, while Solon thought that a happy life only entails having a “good death.” After their conversation, Croesus’ arrogance makes him attack Cyrus the Great, the ruler of the Persian Empire. Croesus is ultimately defeated. Herodotus’ message is clear and something that modern-day politicians should hear: beware of arrogance.
Last but not least, Herodotus knows multiple ways to tell the story of Cyrus the Great, but he focuses on the human part. He shows the exaggerated and mystical story created by Cyrus himself, one in which he was nursed as a baby by a wolf. He undoubtedly did this to solidify his position as a great, almost mythical leader.
According to Professor Rathnam, this story is a word of caution for today’s democracies. “Herodotus knows the power of a good story, how it can corrupt and destroy our thinking. He also knows that you cannot simply correct or stop it. He gets the allure first, where the people are coming from. He sees what the stories’ motivations are, what needs they fulfil.” Through this, Herodotus warns us about the power of story but does not pass judgment on those who believe the wolf story. He dismisses it gently, employing a compassionate approach. We all have longings that only the divine can satisfy.
· · · Herodotus: Eros and Tyranny · · ·
In the second episode, Professor Rathnam and other academics explore Herodotus’ many accounts of tyrants. Through these stories, listeners will learn about the psychology of a despot and the context in which one can rise to power. One of the shocks of reading Herodotus is how modern his stories seem.
Deioces finds the people of Media in a state of anarchy, as crimes are rampant. He promises them that he will help solve their problems, so they appoint him as judge. Crimes subside and everybody admires Deioces. However, Deioces had an eros (erotic passion) for autocratic power. His need was a primordial one.
Knowing that his people needed him, Deioces leaves his position and criminality rises again. A council is formed and they appoint Deioces as king. People freely chose him, considering that without stability you would not have a good life. “Tyranny is better than dying.“ Professor Rathnam affirms that there is an “allure to give yourself to the hero and get lost in that person. Herodotus tells us the horrors of despotic psychology and how easy and attractive it is to surrender.”
Once you rely too much on that stability, however, you are unable to taste freedom. The citizens appointed Deioces (it was orchestrated) and he started to establish a premodern archetype of a totalitarian state. First came the mix of populism and tyranny that led to his election. He was the only one who could provide safety! Then came the cult of personality: orders were made to build a fortress with great impregnable walls; he decreed that no one could talk to the king directly and communication was done only through messages; when he appeared in public, nobody could look at him directly. With this tactic and a large network of spies at his disposal, Deioces had succeeded. He had established a tyrannical regime in which people gave up their rights for the sake of stability.
Cambyses was the son of Cyrus the Great. It is said that for every admirable trait his father possessed, Cambyses shamefully lacked that. His story begins with him conquering Egypt. Cambyses’ malicious proclivities are first seen when he orders his men to defy the tomb and mummy of the pharaoh who insulted his family. He does not know when to stop…
After being defeated by the Ethiopians, Cambyses returns to Egypt and sees the locals celebrating the birth of the sacred bull calf. He takes it as a celebration of his failure, even though that was their custom, hence he stabs the bull with the dagger, beats the priests, and orders the execution of anybody celebrating. The Egyptians say that this is when Cambyses went mad. Narcissism plays a huge role because it makes the personal political. It is not a necessary condition but it is often an effect of creating tyranny. It is bound to develop.
Moreover, nobody dared to oppose Cambyses, in fear of facing his wrath. He was allowed by the sages to marry his sister, although it was strictly forbidden by law. The ones who did defy him suffered the most. The cupbearer’s son lost his life only because his father told the King what his subjects truly thought of him. Therefore, everything opened for Cambyses.
According to Professor Rathnam, “By being told that everything is open to him, Cambyses wants everything open and has no regard for what is naturally opaque and uncertain.” Despotism creates a system in which you have to watch what you say. It is a violation of privacy because everything has to be a performance for the tyrant. Professor Rathnam argues that “we turn ourselves into puppets to survive” the autocrat.
Xerxes was another despot that Herodotus talked about. He had no virtues and vices, he was only shaped by the fact that he was a tyrant. His story shows the extent to which despotism unhinges people with ordinary sanity by shutting them off from others.
An important despotic trait that he exhibits is his wish to dominate nature and enslave it. A bridge over the sea was destroyed by a storm. Instead of accepting the natural event, he affirms “This storm has happened to spite me personally.” Xerxes makes his men throw chains into the sea, shout barbaric words at it, and whip it. Unlike the other tyrants, he was more reasonable and willing to listen to people, but he still saw any resistance as complete resistance. Therefore, people had to obey him or risk a punishment that was harsher than the crime.
Herodotus is crafting his narrative to make a point about domination, power and rulers without constraint. This is a call for us to be more involved in politics. We have to ask ourselves: what steps do we have to take to retain our freedom? In addition, human nature stays the same. A shock when reading Herodotus is how modern these stories seem, since readers can imagine these stories happening today. This repetition is both depressing and a fact. One of the points of telling these stories is hoping for more, recognising the behaviour of a tyrant, and being careful what we choose.
· · · Course Recommendation · · ·
Want to take a political theory class? Professor Rathnam’s class is a great introduction to the subject. Conceptions of Democracy and Meritocracy (ETHLDR 203) discusses tough subjects such as freedom, freedom of speech, the point of governance, political justice, and what politics is for. It is not expected for anybody to have the right answer. She hopes to have a debate and find alternate ways to view the purpose of government.
Edited by Eric Duma
