Character Evidence in the Courts of Classical Athens

Rhetoric, Relevance and the Rule of Law

Nonfiction, History, Ancient History
Cover of the book Character Evidence in the Courts of Classical Athens by Vasileios Adamidis, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Vasileios Adamidis ISBN: 9781317168423
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: November 25, 2016
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Vasileios Adamidis
ISBN: 9781317168423
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: November 25, 2016
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

There has been much debate in scholarship over the factors determining the outcome of legal hearings in classical Athens. Specifically, there is divergence regarding the extent to which judicial panels were influenced by non-legal considerations in addition to, or even instead of, questions of law. Ancient rhetorical theory and practice devoted much attention to character and it is this aspect of Athenian law which forms the focus of this book. Close analysis of the dispute-resolution passages in ancient Greek literature reveals striking similarities with the rhetoric of litigants in the Athenian courts and thus helps to shed light on the function of the courts and the fundamental nature of Athenian law. The widespread use of character evidence in every aspect of argumentation can be traced to the Greek ideas of ‘character’ and ‘personality’, the inductive method of reasoning, and the social, political and institutional structures of the ancient Greek polis. According to the author’s proposed method of interpretation, character evidence was not a means of diverting the jury’s attention away from the legal issues; instead, it was a constructive and relevant way of developing a legal argument.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

There has been much debate in scholarship over the factors determining the outcome of legal hearings in classical Athens. Specifically, there is divergence regarding the extent to which judicial panels were influenced by non-legal considerations in addition to, or even instead of, questions of law. Ancient rhetorical theory and practice devoted much attention to character and it is this aspect of Athenian law which forms the focus of this book. Close analysis of the dispute-resolution passages in ancient Greek literature reveals striking similarities with the rhetoric of litigants in the Athenian courts and thus helps to shed light on the function of the courts and the fundamental nature of Athenian law. The widespread use of character evidence in every aspect of argumentation can be traced to the Greek ideas of ‘character’ and ‘personality’, the inductive method of reasoning, and the social, political and institutional structures of the ancient Greek polis. According to the author’s proposed method of interpretation, character evidence was not a means of diverting the jury’s attention away from the legal issues; instead, it was a constructive and relevant way of developing a legal argument.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Greenwashing Culture by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Routledge Handbook of Sport Management by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Browning Studies (Routledge Revivals) by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Dancing in Damascus by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Greek Literature in the Byzantine Period by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Indo-China: Volume II by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Studies on a Global History of Music by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book The Rise of the Celts by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Routledge Handbook of Gender and Security by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book States and Nationalism in Europe Since 1945 by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book International Conflict Management by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Dictionary of Chemistry by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Radical Sociology of Durkheim and Mauss by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Dreamwork in Holistic Psychotherapy of Depression by Vasileios Adamidis
Cover of the book Language Diversity and Education by Vasileios Adamidis
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy