Rationalism And Religion In Sophocles Play Summary

Ahrensdorf, Peter J. Greek Tragedy And Political Philosophy: Rationalism and Religion in Sophocles’ Plays. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Print.

Peter J. Ahrensdorf, a professor of political science, examines Sophocles’ timeless masterpieces - Oedipus the Tyrant, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone with a central question of political philosophy. In this book he tries to explain how citizens and leaders should govern society by the light of unassisted human reason and religious faith. He points out that in Oedipus the Tyrant Sophocles tries to show political rationalism that terminates religion and in Oedipus at Colonus - piety that throwaways reason. He also analysis how Nietzsche, Socrates and Aristotle defines philosophy and tragedy. This book is very useful to explore Sophocles from social, political and religious view.

Segal, Charles. Sophocles’ Tragic World: Divinity, Nature, Society. London: Harvard University Press, 1995. Print.

Charles Segal, Professor of the Classics at Harvard, explores Oedipus the Tyrant in chapter 8, 9 and Antigone in chapter 5. He also presents a balanced discovery of Freud’s Unconscious in chapter 7. In chapter 8, he focuses on the importance of choral lyric to build up a tragedy and how it moves from religious belief to

This book is based on some elements like - civilization law, religion, social and political order, marriage and the family. Segal argues that these elements are in a tragic framework which based on ideals of justice, power, and control. His most important argument is that this ideals may important for one but may meaningless to others at a time. In chapter 11, he gives a long description how the gods of the upper and lower worlds cooperate in the hero 's service based on Oedipus at