Callicles

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Kallikles ( ancient Greek Καλλικλῆς Kallikles ) from the Athenian demos Acharnai was a Greek sophist v and possibly a politician at the end of the 5th century. The only sources for him are the dialogue Gorgias of the sophist opponent Plato , in which he is one of the interlocutors of Socrates , and a reference by Aristotle to Plato's dialogue. Some researchers have claimed that Plato invented Callicles as a fictional character. However, the majority assume that it really existed. Nothing is known about the living conditions of Callicles. The views expressed by him are taken from Plato's dialogue.

Appearance in the Gorgias

The dialogue takes place during the Peloponnesian War in the house of Callicles, where the sophist Gorgias is staying as a guest. Callicles is just at the beginning of a political career, although researchers do not agree on which political direction (democracy, aristocracy or oligarchy) he should be assigned.

Right of the fittest

Like the sophist Thrasymachus in Plato's dialogue Politeia , Callicles also represents the law of the mightier.

In a brief address, Callicles first distinguishes what is naturally just from what is just according to man-made laws. Suffering injustice is therefore worse than doing injustice, because by nature “everything is always the less beautiful, what is also the worse”. Also, suffering injustice is not a condition for a man, but for a servant, "for whom it would be better to die than to live because he is insulted and insulted and unable to help himself." By nature, on the other hand, it is fair and beautiful when some stronger individuals assert themselves against the weaker ones, if necessary also by force, when the able one has more than the unfit, the nobler more than the ignoble. As examples he cites the animal kingdom and politics, where the better states and people rule over the worse states and people and also own more. For a strong man like the ruler Xerxes , there were no laws that restricted him: he acted according to nature, but not according to the law. The great mass of the weaker, on the other hand, turned against the stronger and created laws that benefit the weaker and harm the stronger. "Because they themselves, I think, are quite satisfied if they only get the same, because they are the worse ones." Above-average strong and noble people, the best, are kept in fear. The weak claim it is ugly, unjust, and do it wrong to have or achieve more than others. This is how you enslave the better from youth and teach them that everyone must have the same amount. "But if, I think, someone with a very capable nature becomes a man, he shakes it all off, breaks free, breaks through and crushes all of our writings and jokes and discussions and unnatural laws, and gets up, he the servant, and rises up as our Lord and precisely in this the right of nature shines out quite clearly. ”Towards the end of his short monologue, Callicles quotes Pindar to underpin his theses. As the reason why his views are rarely expressed by others, Kallicles cites that they often just do not dare to say what they think.

In another short monologue, Callicles represents something similar. A person who serves someone else cannot be blissful. It is naturally beautiful and right to fully satisfy one's desires with courage and insight. Because most people are simply unable to do this, they also forbid the better and praise moderation and justice. "For those who were either originally the sons of kings, or who by virtue of their own nature were able to found a kingdom or a power and rule for themselves, what would be more ugly and worse than moderation for these people if they, that they Enjoy good things and no one stands in their way, to set a master for themselves, namely the great heap of law, gossip and judgment. [...] Lushness, licentiousness and generosity, if only they have support, are virtue and bliss, but that other is ornamentation, unnatural statutes, empty chatter of people and worthless. "

Adult Philosophy

Callicles criticizes adults who are still engaged in philosophy. He expressly advocates young people practicing philosophy: “When I meet boys and youngsters studying philosophy, I am happy, I think that it is well suited to them, and I believe that there is something noble in them, but not that philosophized, I consider ignoble [...]. If, on the other hand, I see that an old age is still philosophizing and cannot get away from it, such a man, O Socrates, thinks to me, should be beaten. ”As an adult one should abandon philosophy in order not to remain inexperienced in important things, such as in the laws of the state and in dealing with other people. If pure philosophers want to speak in public negotiations, start a business or put themselves in the service of the state, they make themselves just as ridiculous as a statesman in philosophical meetings. As a philosopher, one should neither hide from other tasks, nor do anything but make philosophy bad just because one does not understand anything about it. Callicles advised Socrates, whom he was well disposed to, to stop philosophy. Socrates could not even defend himself in court, even if he had a "very mean and pathetic person for the prosecutor", he would run out the death penalty. So Plato has Callicles say: “Therefore, you good man, obey me, stop teaching, you would rather practice beautiful deeds in harmony with what makes you appear wise, now let others do this wonderful thing, should I call it antics or Gossip about why your house is poor, empty and desolate, and do not pursue those who investigate such little things, but who acquire wealth and fame, and many other good things. "

Aftermath

Some of the main points of the conversation between Callicles and Socrates can also be found briefly summarized in Aristotle. However, only insofar as Aristotle is interested in his logical work Sophistic Refutations as an example of the means by which one can induce someone to make unbelievable assertions. Callicles try to do so by setting nature and law as opposites.

Some researchers assume that Callicles had an influence on Machiavelli and especially on Nietzsche , whose doctrine of the superman also requires that particular individuals assert their superiority against the mass of the worse.

See also

literature

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ a b c George B. Kerferd, Hellmut Flashar : Kallikles from Acharnai . In: Hellmut Flashar (ed.): Outline of the history of philosophy. The philosophy of antiquity , Volume 2/1, Schwabe, Basel 1998, pp. 85f.
  2. ^ Plato, Politeia 338c.
  3. ↑ Erik Wolf : Natural Law, Section I: Outline of the history of words, concepts and problems . In: Joachim Ritter u. a. (Ed.): Historical dictionary of philosophy . Volume 6, Schwabe, Basel 1984, Sp. 560-563, here: 561.
  4. ↑ Plato, Gorgias 482c – 484e, trans. u. ed. v. Friedrich Schleiermacher , in: Plato's works. Second part, first volume, 3rd edition, Berlin 1856, pp. 63–65.
  5. ↑ Plato, Gorgias 483c.
  6. ↑ Plato, Gorgias 484a-b.
  7. ↑ Plato, Gorgias 491e-492C.
  8. ↑ Plato, Gorgias 492b-c.
  9. ↑ Plato, Gorgias 484c-486d.
  10. ↑ Plato, Gorgias 485b-c.
  11. ↑ Plato, GORGIAS 486c-d.
  12. ↑ Aristotle, Sophistic Refutations 173a7.
personal data
SURNAME Callicles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek sophist
DATE OF BIRTH 5th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 5th century BC BC or 4th century BC Chr.