Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture, Volume III: The Conflict of Cultural Ideals in the Age of Plato

Paideia #3

by Werner Wilhelm Jaeger, Gilbert Highet (Translator)

Werner Jaeger's classic three-volume work, originally published in 1939, is now available in paperback. Paideia, the shaping of Greek character through a union of civilization, tradition, literature, and philosophy is the basis for Jaeger's evaluation of Hellenic culture.
Volume I describes the foundation, growth, and crisis of Greek culture during the archaic and classical epochs, ending with the collapse of the Athenian empire. The second and third volumes of the work deal with the intellectual history of ancient Greece in the Age of Plato, the 4th century B.C.--the age in which Greece lost everything that is valued in this world--state, power, liberty--but still clung to the concept of paideia. As its last great poet, Menander summarized the primary role of this ideal in Greek culture when he "The possession which no one can take away from man is paideia."

Genres: Philosophy, Education, History, Greece, Classics, Ancient

384 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1944

About the author

Jaeger attended school at Lobberich and at the Gymnasium Thomaeum in Kempen Jaeger studied at the University of Marburg and University of Berlin. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Berlin in 1911 for a dissertation on the Metaphysics of Aristotle. His habilitation was on Nemesios of Emesa (1914). Only 26 years old, Jaeger was called to a professorship with chair at the University of Basel in Switzerland. One year later he moved to a similar position at Kiel, and in 1921 he returned to Berlin. Jaeger remained in Berlin until 1936, when he emigrated to the United States because he was unhappy with Adolf Hitler's regime. Jaeger expressed his veiled disapproval with Humanistische Reden und Vortraege (1937) and his book on Demosthenes (1938) based on his Sather lecture from 1934. Jaeger's messages were fully understood in German university circles; the ardent Nazi followers sharply attacked Jaeger.
In the United States, Jaeger worked as a full professor at the University of Chicago from 1936 to 1939, at which time he moved to Harvard University to continue his edition of the Church father Gregory of Nyssa on which he started before World War I. Jaeger remained in Cambridge, Massachusetts, until his death. The Canadian philosopher James Doull was among his students at Harvard.
Jaeger wrote two dissertations, one in Latin and one in German, on Aristotle's Metaphysics. Jaeger's edition of the Metaphysics was printed in 1957. Only two years after editing Gregory of Nyssa's Contra Eunomium (1921), Jaeger became famous with his groundbreaking study on Aristotle in 1923 which largely remained undisputed until the 1960s.
Jaeger founded two journals: Die Antike (1925–1944) and the influential review journal Gnomon (since 1925).
Jaeger was the editor of the church father Gregory of Nyssa, Gregorii Nysseni Opera, editing Gregory's major work Contra Eunomium (1921, 1960). This edition is a major scholarly achievement and the philological foundation of the current studies on the Cappadocian Fathers.
Jaeger is perhaps best known for his multivolume work "Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture", an extensive consideration of both the earliest practices and later philosophical reflections on the cultural nature of education in Ancient Greece, which he hoped would restore a decadent early 20th century Europe to the values of its Hellenic origins.
Jaeger's last lecture, Early Christianity and Greek Paideia (1961) is a very impressive summary of his life's work covering Greek philology, philosophy and theology from Homer, the Presocratic philosophers, Plato to the Church Fathers, roughly a thousand years.
Source

Reviews

[noblethumos · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Paideia Volume 3: Conflict of Cultural Ideals in the Age of Plato," Werner Jaeger presents a comprehensive examination of the intellectual and cultural landscape of ancient Greece during the era of Plato. Focusing on the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, Jaeger explores the clashes between traditional Greek values and the emergence of new philosophical, political, and social ideals. This review aims to provide an academic analysis of Jaeger's scholarship, highlighting the book's strengths, weaknesses, and its significance within the field of classical studies.


Jaeger's "Paideia Volume 3: Conflict of Cultural Ideals in the Age of Plato" delves into the intellectual and cultural conflicts that characterized ancient Greece during the age of Plato. Through a meticulous analysis of primary sources, including Plato's dialogues and other contemporary writings, Jaeger reveals the intricate interplay between traditional Greek values, such as honor, bravery, and familial loyalty, and the emergence of new ideals, including rationality, justice, and philosophical inquiry.

One of the book's notable strengths lies in Jaeger's exploration of the tension between the practical, civic values of ancient Greece and the rise of abstract philosophical concepts. By examining Plato's dialogues, Jaeger deftly showcases how these conflicting ideals shaped the philosophical and political discourse of the time. Furthermore, Jaeger adeptly illustrates how these conflicts extended beyond philosophy, permeating other facets of Greek culture, such as religion, education, and social structures.


Jaeger's meticulous research and erudite analysis are evident throughout "Paideia Volume 3: Conflict of Cultural Ideals in the Age of Plato." By engaging with a wide range of ancient texts and situating them within their historical and intellectual contexts, Jaeger provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the complex cultural dynamics at play during the age of Plato. His lucid explanations and insightful interpretations make the book accessible to both specialists and those new to the field.

Moreover, Jaeger's nuanced examination of Plato's dialogues serves as a highlight of the book. By carefully unpacking the philosophical ideas embedded within these texts, Jaeger elucidates how Plato grappled with the tensions between traditional Greek values and the emergent philosophical ideals of his time. This analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of Plato's philosophical project and its significance within the broader cultural landscape of ancient Greece.


While "Paideia Volume 3: Conflict of Cultural Ideals in the Age of Plato" offers a thorough exploration of the cultural tensions during the era of Plato, its vast scope occasionally results in a lack of depth in certain areas. Due to the breadth of topics covered, some readers may find themselves craving more in-depth analysis of specific philosophical concepts or historical events. Additionally, familiarity with Plato's dialogues and Greek philosophical thought is beneficial for fully engaging with Jaeger's arguments, which may pose challenges for readers without prior knowledge of the subject.


Jaeger's work in "Paideia Volume 3: Conflict of Cultural Ideals in the Age of Plato" holds great significance within the field of classical studies. By meticulously unraveling the conflicts between traditional Greek values and the emergence of new philosophical ideals during the age of Plato, Jaeger enriches our understanding of the cultural and intellectual transformations of ancient Greece. This volume remains an invaluable resource for scholars and students seeking a comprehensive exploration of the cultural tensions that shaped this pivotal period in Western intellectual history.

GPT

[David A. Beardsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a masterful work by a profound scholar which looks at the origins of ancient Greek thought.