Isonomia (ἰσονομία "equality of political rights,"[1][2] from the Greek ἴσος isos, "equal," and νόμος nomos, "usage, custom, law,"[1]) was a word used by ancient Greek writers such as Herodotus[3] and Thucydides[4] to refer to some kind of popular government. It was subsequently eclipsed until brought back into English as isonomy ("equality of law"). Economist Friedrich Hayek attempted to popularize the term in his book The Constitution of Liberty and argued that a better understanding of isonomy, as used by the Greeks, defines the term to mean "the equal application of the laws to all."[5]
Mogens Herman Hansen has argued that, although often translated as "equality of law," isonomia was in fact something else.[2] Along with isonomia, the Athenians used several terms for equality[2] all compounds beginning with iso-: isegoria[6] (equal right to address the political assemblies), isopsephos polis[7] (one man one vote) and isokratia[8] (equality of power).
When Herodotus invents a debate among the Persians over what sort of government they should have, he has Otanes speak in favor of isonomia when, based on his description of it, we might expect him to call the form of government he favors "democracy."
The rule of the people has the fairest name of all, equality (isonomia), and does none of the things that a monarch does. The lot determines offices, power is held accountable, and deliberation is conducted in public.[3]
Thucydides used isonomia as an alternative to dynastic oligarchy[9] and moderate aristocracy.[10] In time the word ceased to refer to a particular political regime; Plato uses it to refer to simply equal rights[11] and Aristotle does not use the word at all.[12]
Medical usageedit
'Isonomia' was also used in Hellenic times by Pythagorean physicians, such as Alkmaeon, who used it to refer to the balance or equality of those opposite pairs of hot/cold, wet/dry and bitterness/sweetness that maintained the health of the body. Thus:
Alkmaeon said that the equality (isonomia) of the powers (wet, dry, cold, hot, bitter, sweet, etc.) maintains health, but that monarchy [one overruling] among them produces disease.[13]
Later useedit
According to economist and political theorist Friedrich Hayek, isonomia was championed by the Roman Cicero[14] and "rediscovered" in the eleventh century AD by the law students of Bologna whom he says are credited with founding much of the Western legal tradition.
Isonomia was imported into England at the end of the sixteenth century as a word meaning "equality of laws to all manner of persons".[14] Soon after, it was used by the translator of Livy in the form "Isonomy"[14] (although not a direct translation of isonomia) to describe a state of equal laws for all and responsibility of the magistrates. During the seventeenth century it was gradually replaced by the phrases "equality before the law", "rule of law" and "government of law".[14]
Political theorist Hannah Arendt argued that isonomy was equated with political freedom at least from the time of Herodotus. The word essentially denoted a state of no-rule, in which there was no distinction between rulers and ruled. It was "the equality of those who form a body of peers." Isonomy was unique among the forms of government in the ancient lexicon in that it lacked the suffixes "-archy" and "-cracy" which denote a notion of rule in words like "monarchy" and "democracy." Arendt goes on to argue that the Greek polis was therefore conceived not as a democracy but as an isonomy. "Democracy" was the term used by opponents of isonomy who claimed that "what you say is 'no-rule' is in fact only another kind of rulership...rule by the demos," or majority.[15]
The public administration theorist, Alberto Guerreiro Ramos, reserved for isonomy a central role in his model of human organization. He was particularly concerned with distinguishing the space of the isonomy from that of the economy. Following Arendt, Guerreiro Ramos argued that individuals should have the opportunity to engage with others in settings that are unaffected by economizing considerations. The isonomy constitutes such a setting; its function is to "enhance the good life of the whole."[16]
Ancient Greek philosophy linked to isonomía with isegoría (prior equality in determining principles of law) and isocratía (equality in subsequent governance or application of law)[17]
Referencesedit
^ abHenry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon
^ abcThe Athenian Democracy in the Age of Demosthenes", Mogens Herman Hansen, ISBN1-85399-585-1, p. 81-84
^Hannah Arendt, On Revolution (London: Penguin Books, 1963), p. 30
^Guerreiro Ramos, A. (1981). The new science of organizations: A reconceptualization of the wealth of nations. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 131.
^Spanish Ministry of Education resources website / Plato
Further readingedit
Costa, V. (2004). "Osservazioni sul concetto di isonomia". In D’Atena, A.; Lanzillotta, E. (eds.). Da Omero alla costituzione europea. Tivoli (Roma): Edizioni Tored. pp. 33–56.
Ehrenberg, V. (1950). "Origins of Democracy". Historia. 1: 515–548.
Karatani, Kōjin (2017). Isonomia and the origins of philosophy. Durham. ISBN978-0-8223-6885-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Lévy, E. (2005). "Isonomia". In Bultrighini, U. (ed.). Democrazia e antidemocrazia nel mondo Greco, Atti del convegno internazionale di studi, Chieti, 9 – 11 aprile 2003. Alessandria: Edizioni dell'Orso. pp. 119–137.
Lombardini, John (2013). "Isonomia and the public sphere in democratic Athens". History of Political Thought. 34 (3): 393–420.
Schubert, Charlotte (2021). Isonomia. Entwicklung und Geschichte. Berlin; Boston. ISBN9783110723663.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Vlastos, Gregory (1953). "Isonomia". American Journal of Philology. 74 (4): 337–366. doi:10.2307/292054. JSTOR 292054. S2CID 246256631.
January 01, 1970
isonomia, isonomy, redirects, here, thoroughbred, horse, isonomy, horse, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, this, article, adding, secondary, tertiary, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, js. Isonomy redirects here For the Thoroughbred horse see Isonomy horse This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Isonomia news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message Isonomia ἰsonomia equality of political rights 1 2 from the Greek ἴsos isos equal and nomos nomos usage custom law 1 was a word used by ancient Greek writers such as Herodotus 3 and Thucydides 4 to refer to some kind of popular government It was subsequently eclipsed until brought back into English as isonomy equality of law Economist Friedrich Hayek attempted to popularize the term in his book The Constitution of Liberty and argued that a better understanding of isonomy as used by the Greeks defines the term to mean the equal application of the laws to all 5 Contents 1 Ancient usage 2 Medical usage 3 Later use 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further readingAncient usage editMogens Herman Hansen has argued that although often translated as equality of law isonomia was in fact something else 2 Along with isonomia the Athenians used several terms for equality 2 all compounds beginning with iso isegoria 6 equal right to address the political assemblies isopsephos polis 7 one man one vote and isokratia 8 equality of power When Herodotus invents a debate among the Persians over what sort of government they should have he has Otanes speak in favor of isonomia when based on his description of it we might expect him to call the form of government he favors democracy The rule of the people has the fairest name of all equality isonomia and does none of the things that a monarch does The lot determines offices power is held accountable and deliberation is conducted in public 3 Thucydides used isonomia as an alternative to dynastic oligarchy 9 and moderate aristocracy 10 In time the word ceased to refer to a particular political regime Plato uses it to refer to simply equal rights 11 and Aristotle does not use the word at all 12 Medical usage edit Isonomia was also used in Hellenic times by Pythagorean physicians such as Alkmaeon who used it to refer to the balance or equality of those opposite pairs of hot cold wet dry and bitterness sweetness that maintained the health of the body Thus Alkmaeon said that the equality isonomia of the powers wet dry cold hot bitter sweet etc maintains health but that monarchy one overruling among them produces disease 13 Later use editAccording to economist and political theorist Friedrich Hayek isonomia was championed by the Roman Cicero 14 and rediscovered in the eleventh century AD by the law students of Bologna whom he says are credited with founding much of the Western legal tradition Isonomia was imported into England at the end of the sixteenth century as a word meaning equality of laws to all manner of persons 14 Soon after it was used by the translator of Livy in the form Isonomy 14 although not a direct translation of isonomia to describe a state of equal laws for all and responsibility of the magistrates During the seventeenth century it was gradually replaced by the phrases equality before the law rule of law and government of law 14 Political theorist Hannah Arendt argued that isonomy was equated with political freedom at least from the time of Herodotus The word essentially denoted a state of no rule in which there was no distinction between rulers and ruled It was the equality of those who form a body of peers Isonomy was unique among the forms of government in the ancient lexicon in that it lacked the suffixes archy and cracy which denote a notion of rule in words like monarchy and democracy Arendt goes on to argue that the Greek polis was therefore conceived not as a democracy but as an isonomy Democracy was the term used by opponents of isonomy who claimed that what you say is no rule is in fact only another kind of rulership rule by the demos or majority 15 The public administration theorist Alberto Guerreiro Ramos reserved for isonomy a central role in his model of human organization He was particularly concerned with distinguishing the space of the isonomy from that of the economy Following Arendt Guerreiro Ramos argued that individuals should have the opportunity to engage with others in settings that are unaffected by economizing considerations The isonomy constitutes such a setting its function is to enhance the good life of the whole 16 See also editAristagoras Athenian democracy Classical Athens Cleisthenes Democracy Egalitarianism Equal justice under law Equality before the law Political egalitarianism Isocracy USS Isonomia 1864 Notes editAncient Greek philosophy linked to isonomia with isegoria prior equality in determining principles of law and isocratia equality in subsequent governance or application of law 17 References edit a b Henry George Liddell Robert Scott A Greek English Lexicon a b c The Athenian Democracy in the Age of Demosthenes Mogens Herman Hansen ISBN 1 85399 585 1 p 81 84 a b Herodotus 3 80 Thucydides 3 82 4 78 Hayek The Constitution of Liberty pgs 238 242 University of Chicago Press 1960 2011 Demosthenes 15 18 Euripides The Suppliant Woman 353 Ste Croix 1981 285 Herodotus 5 92 Thucydides 4 78 Thucydides 3 82 Plato Republic 563b Perseus Project search Fragment 4 a b c d Friedrich A Hayek Origins of the Rule of Law Hannah Arendt On Revolution London Penguin Books 1963 p 30 Guerreiro Ramos A 1981 The new science of organizations A reconceptualization of the wealth of nations Toronto University of Toronto Press p 131 Spanish Ministry of Education resources website PlatoFurther reading editCosta V 2004 Osservazioni sul concetto di isonomia In D Atena A Lanzillotta E eds Da Omero alla costituzione europea Tivoli Roma Edizioni Tored pp 33 56 Ehrenberg V 1950 Origins of Democracy Historia 1 515 548 Karatani Kōjin 2017 Isonomia and the origins of philosophy Durham ISBN 978 0 8223 6885 4 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Levy E 2005 Isonomia In Bultrighini U ed Democrazia e antidemocrazia nel mondo Greco Atti del convegno internazionale di studi Chieti 9 11 aprile 2003 Alessandria Edizioni dell Orso pp 119 137 Lombardini John 2013 Isonomia and the public sphere in democratic Athens History of Political Thought 34 3 393 420 Schubert Charlotte 2021 Isonomia Entwicklung und Geschichte Berlin Boston ISBN 9783110723663 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Vlastos Gregory 1953 Isonomia American Journal of Philology 74 4 337 366 doi 10 2307 292054 JSTOR 292054 S2CID 246256631 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Isonomia amp oldid 1162410511 Isonomy, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
