The Greeks and the Irrational
The Greeks and the Irrational by Eric Robertson Dodds, published by University of California Press in 1951, is a thought-provoking exploration of Greek culture through the lenses of modern anthropology and psychology. This first edition spans 327 pages and challenges the traditional view of ancient Greece as solely a triumph of rationalism, prompting readers to reconsider the complexities of Greek thought and its connections to more “primitive” modes of thinking.
In this work, Dodds delves into the interplay between rationality and irrationality in ancient Greek society, raising questions about the assumptions we hold regarding their intellectual landscape. The book addresses themes related to history, philosophy, and the occult, inviting readers to engage with the nuances of ancient beliefs and practices. This edition serves as a significant contribution to the study of ancient Greece, offering insights that resonate with contemporary discussions in the fields of history and philosophy.
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“In this philosophy classic, which was first published in 1951, E. R. Dodds takes on the traditional view of Greek culture as a triumph of rationalism. Using the analytical tools of modern anthropology and psychology, Dodds asks, “Why should we attribute to the ancient Greeks an immunity from ‘primitive’ modes of thought which we do not find in any society open to our direct observation?” Praised by reviewers as “an event in modern Greek scholarship” and “a book which it would be difficult to over-praise,” The Greeks and the Irrational was Volume 25 of the Sather Classical Lectures series.”–GoogleBooks.
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