Table of Contents

PrefaceAbbreviationsIntroduction3Ch. 1The Problem of Dissent: Criticism as Contest14Ch. 2Public Speech and Brute Fact: Thucydides52Ch. 3Essence and Enactment: Aristophanes Ecclesiazusae122Ch. 4Justice, Knowledge, Power: Plato Apology, Crito, Gorgias, Republic156Ch. 5Eloquence, Leadership, Memory: Isocrates Antidosis and Areopagiticus248Ch. 6Political Animals, Actual Citizens, and the Best Possible Polis: Aristotle Politics290Ch. 7The Dialectics of Dissent: Criticism as Dialogue352Bibliography375Index Locorum403General Index409

About the Author

Josiah Ober is the David Magie Class of 1897 Professor of Classics and a member for the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University. His books include The Athenian Revolution, Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens, and Dxmokratia (edited with Charles Hedrick). All three books are available from Princeton.

Reviews

"This book is first-rate: intelligent, judicious, original, a seamless performance, and on a fundamental topic... [A] great achievement."--Robert W. Wallace, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science "[An] impressive new book ... rich in detail and suggestive in interpretation... There is passion in [Ober's] account of democracy and sympathy in his portrayal of individual critics."--Mary Margaret McCabe, Times Literary Supplement "Ober commendably explores texts vital for understanding ancient democracy in a presentation well designed to encourage dialogue."--Thomas J. Figueira, American Historical Review "It would be difficult to overstate the scope and magnitude of Ober's erudition as displayed in this book. It is epic in its sweep."--V. Bradley Lewis, Review of Politics