The Origin of the Word Hubris - Essay Example

Hubris The word hubris has been around since ancient Greece. With time its definition has been modernized somewhat but the core meaning is essentially the same. Its concept is based on the principle of excessive pride. “Hubris according to its modern usage is exaggerated self pride or self-confidence (overbearing pride), often resulting in fatal retribution” (). This paper will examine modern day hubris as well as past time hubris and how it has changed. Hubris first originated in ancient Greece when the Greeks were trying to establish laws that would explain the meaning of life. Along with advancements in science the Greeks made significant advances in philosophy. “Beginning with Hesiod, the Greeks stressed the virtue of sophrosyn (moderation, self-control) as the key to happiness and right living. Its opposite was Hubris, meaning pride, arrogance and unbridled ambition” (). Hubris encompassed many aspects of life in ancient Greece. It was not only a philosophical matter but also a legal and religious matter. Hubris was not only an act against humans but also an act against the gods, “Hubris against the gods is often attributed as a character flaw of the heroes in Greek tragedy, and the cause of the nemesis or destruction, which befalls these characters” (). The 2 gods were free to punish those mortal who were guilty of committing hubris but were also free to commit hubris themselves because of the power they possessed over mortals. Athenian dramatists often wrote about this theme in their plays, “Herodotus attributed the Persian defeat by the Greeks to Xerxes overweening pride, for Zeus tolerates pride in none but himself" (). Ancient Greek writings such as The Odyssey also touch on the topic of hubris on a mortal to mortal level rather than an immortal to mortal level. The most popular example is that of Penelope’s suitors who are made to pay for their crimes against the household of Odysseus from the hands of Odysseus himself rather than one of the gods. In this case, hubris was an act of violence but an act of arrogance. Penelope’s suitors believed that Odysseus would not be returning so they helped themselves to his property and wife. From a modern perspective, this act of hubris does not stem from excessive pride but from practicality. After all, Odysseus was gone for quite some time but according to Homer this extended absence was not an excuse for arrogance (). Hubris in ancient Greece was considered a crime. Legally, it was not a matter of excessive pride that was a problem but excessive violence. It is the modern day equivalent to assault, battery, sexual assault and theft. Examples of this violence are found in the speeches of Demosthenes where evidence of physical assault and taking excessive pleasure in another’s downfall are clearly demonstrated (). According to the Greek philosopher Aristotle, the act of taking pleasure in violence and causing others pain was the core of hubris. He defined hubris as: To cause shame to the victim 3 not in order that anything may happen to you, nor because anything has happened to you, but merely for your own gratification. Hubris is not the requital of past injuries; this is revenge. As for the pleasure in hubris, its cause is this: men think that by ill-treating others they make their own superiority the greater (). Although hubris was a crime and there was a law against it, citizens were not generally charged with it because of its difficulty to prove and the prosecution expense (). Modern day hubris has its roots in excessive pride and arrogance. The word has taken on many forms but it encompasses modern life the same way it encompassed life in ancient Greece. “Today, hubris is a combination of a lack of knowledge combined with a lack of humility” (). There is no law against hubris and one cannot be convicted of excessive pride. Although, modern day law dictates that acts of violence, murder and theft are punishable so perhaps the word crime is one of the modern day equivalents of hubris. From a social point of view the word hubris has been taken on many modern day meanings such as snob and stuck up. Those who possess confidence are not shunned but are admired. This is evident in our never ending admiration for the rich, famous and powerful. The world’s love affair with celebrities is proof that hubris is a quality that is secretly admired. Nowadays everybody wants more, more and more. More plastic surgery, more money, more love, hubris has been separated into two distinct categories crime and material excess. Material excess stems from hubris. Those who want more do so because of 4 excess pride. Perhaps Imperial Hubris is the type of hubris that has not transformed since the time of the ancient Greeks. Alexander the Great was accused of hubris because of his lust for conquering unknown lands. The desire to conquer and control another’s territory is as strong today as it was in ancient times. Today, Imperial Hubris is evident in the war against terrorism and the never ending feud between Osama bin Landen and George Bush. “Imperial Hubris argues that Osama bin Ladens war against the U.S. is a classical example of defensive jihad waged against an enemy occupier rather than an apocalyptic attack on freedom” (). If this is true then an excess of pride for religion and country is causing violence which is an offspring of hubris. This excess of pride can be related to different motives which include: the desire for money, land, oil and oil resources. This concept of Imperial Hubris is related to modern day hubris and its never-ending desire for material excess. Hubris has existed since before man had a name for it. The Greeks were advanced thinkers who were smart enough to analyze human nature and give excess pride a name. In ancient Greece hubris had a simpler form than today. It was excess pride and the lust for glory. It was easily punishable by both the gods and the law. Modern day hubris has taken many forms and is not clearly defined. It is harder to spot and it is harder to determine if it is positive or negative. It is both desired and shunned. The fine lines that once existed are now blurred and we can no longer tell who is guilty of hubris and who we envy because of their hubris. Works Cited Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. 9 June. 2007. 11 June. 2007 (). Guisepi, Robert. A History of Ancient Greece. 2001. 11 June. 2007. (). Read More