PoEthics: for a new 'tragic' ethics of affection

Project Information

PoEthics

Grant agreement ID: 101063051

DOI

10.3030/101063051

Project closed

EC signature date 25 August 2022

Start date 15 February 2023

End date 14 February 2025

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 187 624,32

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PoEthics (PoEthics: for a new 'tragic' ethics of affection)

Reporting period: 2023-02-15 to 2025-02-14

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

PoEthics investigates the role of affection in ethics, with a specific focus on two ancient Greek poets, Homer and Sophocles. Both depict moral dilemmas of evil, violence and injustice. Conflicts, such as in the stories of Achilles or Antigone, seem unavoidable in the community. On the other hand, sensible characters, like Hector, Ajax or Deianeira, overwhelmed by bad luck and compelling passions, fail to save themselves and their beloved ones. The problem vividly expressed in these literary works is how men can find a solution in such hostile situations avoiding violence, pain, sorrow, and death. Is rationality, practical reasoning, or observance of principles whether divine or positive ones enough? PoEthics will explore if the subtler ethical message lies in human sensitivity and bonds of affections, often symbolized by minor characters whose significance need to be re-evaluated. Bernard Williams has endorsed a moral model which takes into account the irrationality of luck and the concreteness of every single persons desires, hopes and emotions in ethical judgments and actions. On the same path are the works by Nussbaum. Lvinas, Arendt and following feminist though, especially Cavarero and Butler, instead, put at the center of moral discourse the concept of 'shared vulnerability' and the role of the 'other'. PoEthics engages with these contemporary strands in ethics but proposes a new approach, which puts at the core of moral behaviour the role of personal affections. This novel ethical paradigm addresses concrete societal and individuals problems involving complex ethical issues. PoEthics aim will be to spread the knowledge of these ancient texts to specialistic theater and general audience.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The main activities of the Marie Curie individual fellowship have focused on three areas, that of research, academic and popularizing publications and the organization of academic and outreach events. The datailed informations can be found on the project's website https://poethics.sites.uu.nl/

-Research

Homer and Sophocles are well-known ancient Greek poets, portraying moral dilemmas of evil, violence, and injustice. Through an interdisciplinary perspective, the project has explored some complex issues of the philosophical debate in the field of ethics and political philosophy. Special attention has been paid to the role of interpersonal relationships in addressing fundamental philosophical questions.
Through the teaching activity of academic seminars with university students, the organization of international workshops with distinguished academics and the presentation of the living presence of Greek tragedy in contemporary performing arts, particularly in theatre, the project has demonstrated the importance of multidisciplinarity for a conscious reflection in the humanities.
During the two years of the Fellowship I took part in several international conferences as an invited speaker (Berlin, Verona, Amsterdam, Utrecht), presenting the first results of my research. In most of these talks, the outcome will be a scientific publication in conference proceedings or in monographic issues of journals

-Publications

The publications in detail are listed in the results section.
Within two years from the end of the project I expect to publish also:
-one or two monographs on the philosophical reception of Sophocles and Homer
-three published volumes resulting from the three international conferences organized
-a volume co-authored with professionals of the theater arts on the presence of Sophocles in prose theater and in children's theater in Italy

-Activities

Academic Events:
December 2023, Workshop with Bonnie Honig on Antigone, Interrupted (Cambridge Press, 2013), with RMA students from the Tutorial “Tragedy and Philosophy: Sophocles’ Antigone in Ethics, Political Philosophy and Feminist Thinkers”
September 2024, International Workshop ‘PoEthics’ Poetry & Philosophy: Homer, Sophocles and affections", Utrecht University
December 2024 Seminario di studio "PoEthics’Omero: poesia emozioni filosofia”, University of Verona
February 2025 International Workshop "PoEthics’ 2 Poetry & Philosophy”, Utrecht University

Outreach Events:
June-October 2023 Interviews with actors from the Theater Production ‘Parole e Sassi – Collettivo Progetto Antigone”, Udine and Milano
September “Laboratorio ‘PoEthics’: riscritture contemporanee dell'Antigone di Sofocle”, High School Liceo Classico “G. Berchet, Milan, (with the Italian contemporary poet Stefano Raimondi)

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Publications to date reflect the objectives of the project stated above in going beyond existing studies of Greek epic and tragedy and their reception in philosophy and intellectual history.

Previous research on the intellectual history of Homer and Sophocles has primarily focused on ancient and modern philosophy. PoEthics is the first project to explore this topic in recent and contemporary thought, bringing together innovative and cutting-edge research perspectives, particularly feminist thought and emotion studies. The dissemination, both through academic publications and papers at workshops and conferences, has fostered interdisciplinary dialogue among classical scholars, philosophers, and cultural historians. It has also promoted connections between scholars across different disciplines and from both European and non-European countries, paving the way for a deeper international debate and future collaborations on related topics.

The project’s outreach activities have also had a significant impact. Through seminars involving contemporary artists, writers, theater directors, and actors, the project has engaged school students and encouraged young generations to reflect on the enduring relevance of Homer and Sophocles. These discussions have highlighted how these ancient texts speak to pressing moral issues in contemporary society, such as vaccination ethics and the importance of interpersonal relationships for the well-being of the broader community.

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