The Trouble with Being Earnest: Trump, Socrates, and Straight Talk with Elizabeth Markovits
When:
Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016 7:00p -
8:30p
Wednesday, Oct 26, 2016 7:00p -
8:30p
Where:
Lexington Depot
13 Depot Square
Lexington, Massachusetts 02420
Admission:
$10.00
Categories:
Lectures & Conferences
Event website:
http://www.lexingtoncommunityed.org/detail.php?q=SPOS
Prof. Elizabeth Markovits invites us to think through the 2016 election through the lens of classical political theory. As in Athens, our democracy is a logocentric enterprise, therefore, we must pay attention to how we evaluate political words. To explore this issue, Markovits will look at deliberative democratic theory and then go on to discuss some of the dangers that the ethic of sincerity poses for democratic communication. She will then turn to the ancient Greeks. In all our many differences, we both have grappled with the problem of authenticity of public speech. As with our sincerity norm, Athenian democrats relied on parrhesia, or frank speech, to guarantee the validity of their deliberation. And just as our norm poses certain dangers for discussion, so did parrhesia for Athenians. Plato’s dialogues, especially the character of Socrates, with his sarcasm and irony, offers us the opportunity to think about both need for and the dangers of frank-speech.
Elizabeth K. Markovits is Associate Professor of Politics and Director of the Teaching and Learning Initiative at Mount Holyoke College. She teaches courses in political theory, ranging from ancient Greek thought to contemporary feminist and democratic theory. She is the author of The Politics of Sincerity: Frank Speech, Plato, and Democratic Judgment (Pennsylvania State University Press, 2008). Her current research focuses on problems of intergenerational justice in contemporary democratic theory and ancient Greek literature, as well as the intersections between citizenship, art, and responsibility.
This evenings event is part of The Fiveash Legacy Lecture series. ~The Fiveash Lecture Series is inspired by, and intended to keep influential, the teaching tradition and legacy of Dr. Michael Fiveash, a long time and beloved Latin and Classics teacher at Lexington High and Lexington Community Education. The series is coordinated by Lexington Community Education and is intended to honor Michael's teaching legacy by hosting talks that focus on the Humanities and Classics, especially those that deal with the ancient world of Greece and Rome.
The event will be held on Wednesday, October 26 at 7:00pm at the Lexington Depot, 13 Depot Square, Lexington. The cost is $10.00.
Pre-registration strongly recommended. To register, using a VISA or MC, please contact Lexington Community Education at 781 862 8043.
