Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus. Lecture 12 by Michael Davis

[@sss95547]

Thank you for these lectures, Michael, and whoever behind this channel.

[@johnruplinger3133]

Deeply appreciate Michael Davis' thoughtfulness. Still, I see a fundamental problem common to the philosophers/poets/ etc, in that they project their souls (and experience) upon everyone else. Thus Sophocles, Plato, Freud (not Shakespeare i think) universalize what is particular to them and most interlecterals; fundamentally, theirs are not my experience nor perspective. 34:00 Anger is a bit tricky. That's not the only cause. ... Also, I think there's a denial of the evidence. Some do indeed act unselfishly, but to act purely unselfishly is no easy thing. I think Plato's error is in seeing no good either in himself or others and not being able to see the good; as well assuming all men were like himself. This seems a common flaw among most great writers and philosophers. Lots of questions still remain. Thanks again for your thoughtful lecture.

[@sss95547]

The question of anger is always tricky, as we don't translate it as the ancients did (menis); its somewhat the remit of the gods, thus inherently inhumane (or the divine in the human). Its why Homer made it the centre of the Illiad (the anger of achilles). Unrelated, how does one see that which one hasn't projected one's soul into? Is perception not mediated by an apriori experience/set of values? I see it not as a problem common to the philosophers/poets/etc, but as a fundamental to the very scientific/philosophic/poetic interest to begin with. Note that all these categories did not apply at the time of the ancients. The anatomy of interest itself seems to be of a religious nature.

[@johnruplinger3133]

@@sss95547 yes. Anger is difficult; perhaps, nothing is more heroic than to restrain anger and not let it darken judgement. Achilles, Odysseus, Ajax, Eumaeus, Telemachus all fail.... perhaps alone Euricleia does not. Never to be angry is no answer; reasoning it away leads to worse, more myopic perspective; never let it cloud judgement. As to "perception mediated...", I agree. However, I disagree in that experience grows, understanding and wisdom, rare, but with time can arrive at right vantage and judgment become refined. And that, regardless of ages, times, cultures though with some limitations from our environs.