E-Book Overview
The only good thing about this book is that it sums up previous ideas regarding genocide in ancient texts. But whenever John Docker starts talking about his own ideas or conclusions, you can see straight off that the guy is aiming to be provocative and demagogical in that he always gives them to you in the same breath that he feeds you his political views. I'm sorry, but thats just not the way academic books are supposed to be written, most of the time it seems like he's running for a political office instead of researching the subject objectively. I am a grad student in Postmodern Literature with a BA in Ancient Literature, have read many books and articles about violence and religion, and can safely say by any standard that John Docker's book is in REALLY bad taste. He himself adds nothing to the research being done in this subject and only tries to use it as a platform to promote his own political views. If you want to read about violence in the bible, you might want to check out Regina Schwartz "The Curse of Cain". She writes about the same subject Docker claims to write about only she actually gives unique insights on the biblical texts and analyzes them in a thorough and scientific way that produces an exciting new interpretation of the texts and contributes to the on going research of preventing genocide and group violence in the modern day world. To sum it up: Do yourself a favor and DONT spend your money on this book. The topic sounds tempting, but there are other,more informative and relevant books out there on this subject that are much more worth the time and money.
E-Book Content
THE ORIGINS OF VIOLENCE
The Origins of Violence Religion, History and Genocide John Docker
Pluto Press
First published 2008 by Pluto Press 345 Archway Road, London N6 5AA www.plutobooks.com Copyright © John Docker 2008 The right of John Docker to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978 0 7453 2544 6 Hardback ISBN 978 0 7453 2543 9 Paperback Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data applied for This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental standards of the country of origin. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Designed and produced for Pluto Press by Curran Publishing Services, Norwich Printed and bound in the European Union by CPI Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham and Eastbourne, England
This book is dedicated to Ned Curthoys
CONTENTS Preface and acknowledgements
xi
Introduction
1
1. Genocide as ancient practice: chimpanzees, humans, agricultural society Raphaël Lemkin Jane Goodall Jared Diamond Galarrwuy Yunupingu Hugh Brody
13 14 17 29 34 35
2. Genocide, and questioning of genocide, in the ancient Greek world: Herodotus and Thucydides Historical writing Herodotus Thucydides Genocide and the honour of nations Athens invades Sicily The challenge to Athens Conclusion: speaking to the future
39 41 42 47 50 53 55 57
3. Genocide, trauma and world upside down in ancient Greek tragedy: Aeschylus and Euripides Lemkin’s analytic method Genocidal consciousness in Aeschylus’s Agamemnon Perpetrator and victim consciousness in Euripides’ Hecabe: terror and trauma [ vii ]
61 62 65 69
CONTENTS
Andromache: the slave as the stranger who disturbs War, genocide, and female and child suffering: The Women of Troy Conclusion 4. Utopia and dystopia: Plato and Cicero’s Republics Plato Cicero Debating the virtues of empire, Rome, natural law Conclusion: ‘The Dre