Isonomia and The Origins of Philosophy Pgs 11-34

Question 1

What does “isonomia” mean, and how is it different from democracy?

Answer 1

Isonomia means “no-rule” and thrived in Ionian city-states, contrasting with Athenian democracy, which was based on majority rule and class struggle.

Question 2

According to Hannah Arendt, what was the intended structure of the polis in ancient Greece?

Answer 2

The polis was supposed to be an isonomy, not a democracy.

Question 3

How did the unique characteristics of Ionian society contribute to the concept of isonomia?

Answer 3

Ionian cities, founded by colonists who severed ties with mainland traditions, fostered a culture valuing labor, trade, and individual autonomy, emphasizing a social contract over kinship.

Question 4

What led to the rise and eventual fall of isonomia in Ionian city-states?

Answer 4

Isonomia thrived with abundant land allowing free movement, but external pressures (like Lydia and Persia) and internal divisions led to its decline.

Question 5

What proposal did Thales make, and what does it signify about isonomia?

Answer 5

Thales proposed establishing a single seat of government; his failure highlights the fragility of isonomia before misfortunes began.

Question 6

How did Athenian democracy overshadow the concept of isonomia?

Answer 6

Athenian democracy, emerging from class conflict and militarism, focused on land ownership and slave labor, erasing the legacy of Ionian “no-rule.”

Question 7

What did Nietzsche feel was lost in post-Socratic Athens according to Karatani?

Answer 7

Nietzsche felt that what was lost was not the legacy of Ionia but the Athenian tradition of warrior-farmer communities.

Question 8

Name some key innovations that originated in Ionia.

Answer 8

The alphabet, coinage, and the principles of the polis.

Question 9

Why was colonization significant for the emergence of isonomia?

Answer 9

Ionian cities were founded by migrants free from mainland traditions, creating an environment conducive to isonomia.

Question 10

What role did mobility play in maintaining isonomia?

Answer 10

Freedom of movement allowed dissatisfied individuals to relocate, preventing the entrenchment of power structures.

Question 11

What has been largely forgotten about the Ionian legacy?

Answer 11

The emphasis on individual autonomy, freedom, and equality that characterized Ionia has been obscured.

Question 12

What insights can be gained from understanding isonomia?

Answer 12

It offers valuable perspectives on alternative political models that prioritize individual freedom and genuine equality, challenging conventional narratives about democracy.

Question 13

What does the term “isonomia” mean, and what are its key characteristics?

Answer 13

Isonomia means “equality before the law” or “no-rule.” It describes a form of social and political organization marked by individual freedom, economic equality, and a lack of centralized authority.

Question 14

Define “polis” in the context of ancient Greece.

Answer 14

A polis is a Greek city-state characterized by its independence, citizen participation in governance, and a shared sense of identity.

Question 15

What is a “Covenant Community” (Schwurgemeinschaft)?

Answer 15

A Covenant Community is a group bound by a shared oath or agreement, emphasizing voluntary association and mutual obligation.

Question 16

Explain “Mode D” as described by Karatani.

Answer 16

Mode D is a term for an exchange system based on freedom and equality, characterized by individual mobility and a rejection of exploitative labor systems, exemplified by “isonomia.”

Question 17

What is a “township,” and what are its key features?

Answer 17

A township is a form of local self-government common in colonial America, emphasizing direct democracy, community participation, and economic equality through land distribution.

Question 18

Describe the “Asiatic Despotic State” as defined by Karl Marx.

Answer 18

An Asiatic Despotic State is characterized by centralized bureaucracy, a powerful ruler, and a lack of citizen participation in governance.

Question 19

What was the Delian League?

Answer 19

The Delian League was an alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens in the 5th century BCE, formed to combat the Persian Empire.

Question 20

What is the significance of the Panionium?

Answer 20

The Panionium served as a religious sanctuary and meeting place for the Ionian cities, symbolizing their shared identity and common interests.

Question 21

What is the Althing?

Answer 21

The Althing is the national parliament of Iceland, established in the 10th century CE, and is considered one of the oldest surviving parliamentary institutions in the world.

Question 22

How did Plato and Aristotle view Ionian philosophy?

Answer 22

They presented it as a precursor to “true” Athenian philosophy, focusing on natural philosophy while downplaying its social and political aspects, obscuring its emphasis on isonomia and social equality.

Question 23

What distinguishes Ionian poleis from Asian despotic states?

Answer 23

Ionian poleis lacked centralized bureaucracy, standing armies, and state-controlled economies, instead promoting free markets, citizen governance, and absence of social hierarchy based on kinship.

Question 24

How does Arendt differentiate between “isonomia” and “democracy”?

Answer 24

Arendt defines isonomia as a state of “no-rule” where equality and freedom are intertwined, while democracy involves majority rule, which can suppress minority voices.

Question 25

What impact did the money economy have on mainland Greece?

Answer 25

The introduction of a money economy and existing land-based social hierarchies led to debt servitude and a widening gap between the wealthy and the poor.

Question 26

Why did Athens grant political rights to lower classes?

Answer 26

The need for a strong citizen army, especially hoplites, drove Athens to grant political rights in exchange for military service, contributing to the development of Athenian democracy.

Question 27

How do the Icelandic Commonwealth and American townships illustrate isonomia?

Answer 27

Both exemplified isonomia through individual freedom, self-governance, and economic equality, highlighting the importance of geographical mobility and community.

Question 28

What role did colonization play in the emergence of isonomia?

Answer 28

Colonization in Ionia led to new communities free from traditional clan structures, fostering individual autonomy and reliance on social contracts that allowed isonomia to flourish.

Question 29

What potential does Karatani see in “mode D”?

Answer 29

Karatani proposes “mode D” as a means of transcending the limitations of contemporary liberal democracies through a framework of freedom and equality.

Question 30

What parallel does Karatani draw between Heidegger and Athenian philosophy?

Answer 30

He suggests that just as Heidegger argued that post-Socratic philosophy neglected the true meaning of “being,” the Athenian erasure of isonomia represents a forgetting of a fundamental mode of social and political existence.