(Originally written July 8, 2006 in Book 4)
The History of Western Philosophy
Bertrand Russell
Chapter 12 - The Influence of Sparta (continued)
Women in Sparta were not isolated as in the rest of Greece.
Women were not allowed to show weak emotions if their sons died in battle or if their children were killed as babies for being weak.
Childbearing was encouraged by the State. A man with three sons was exempt from war and a man with four sons was exempt from all public affairs.
There were two kings in Sparta: one peace-time, one war-time who served with a council of 28 elders.
The elders were chosen by the people, but had to be over 60 and from the aristocracy.
There was also the Assembly which was all the people. This body could not initiate anything but voted simply yes or no.
There were also 5 Ephors who made sure the kings upheld the Spartan laws. They served the kings but did not let them exceed their power.
Sparta was admired by other Greeks for its stability.
Cowardice was the highest sin in Spartan society.
Their army was nearly invincible on land until 371 BC when they were defeated by the Thebans.
Apart from wartime it appears as Spartans were notoriously hypocritical. Despite Spartan contempt for wealth, few Spartans could not be bribed. Spartan women, supposedly chaste, had their honor stripped due to a number of heirs to the throne being found not to be the sons of kings. Spartan patriotism (legendary) is put in question by a king dying as a traitor with Xerxes, king of Persia.
Sparta stayed as an isolated state numerous times when Greece tried to unite.
Aristotle heavily criticizes Spartan way of life:
1) too much power for women
2) unequal distribution of wealth
3) Ephors are too poor and thus suspect for bribes
4) too strict of laws made good people criminals
5) Sparta was overly decadent
In spite of Aristotle's matter-of-fact condemnation of Sparta, the mythical Sparta of Plutarch and Plato's Republic reigns supreme in man's mind.
This idealism and love of power still leads men astray today.
Lycurgus wrote the code of laws Sparta lived by. But Lycurgus was a pure myth. Nevertheless, Lycurgus' myth has deeply impacted the world.
The law was strict like those of Cret and not superficial as in Ionia.
He separated the soldiers from other citizens, which he learned from Egypt. He separated all occupations - merchants, artificers, laborers, warriors, etc.
Land was given to men in order to negate riches and poverty and the ills that come with both.
He banished gold and silver for the same reasons.
The coinage was in iron, which made commerce outside of Sparta impossible, furthering isolation.
All citizens were to eat the same food and together.
His philosophy of education believed that education was of the utmost importance.
He aimed to keep the birthrate up so the war machine would stay fueled.
Women danced for the young men naked to entice them to marry.
Marriage began as an illicit affair to keep desire fresh and new.
Jealousy was ridiculous in Spartan culture. Older men encouraged younger men to sleep with their wives to keep children production up.
Children were property of all honest men in Sparta - it takes a village.
Children were examined at birth to see if they were fit to live. If they were the hardening process would begin instantly. If not, they were killed.
Children were taught to obey, ignore pain, endure labor and overcome battle.
They were taught to steal, but if they were caught they were punished, not for the theft, but for stupidity.
Homosexuality in men and women was recognized as custom. It was part of boys education. Their lovers were credited or discredited by the boys' performance.
Liberty was small in all stages of Spartan life.
Legend states that upon hearing that an Athenian was condemned for idleness a Spartan exclaimed 'Show me this man who was condemned for living nobly and as a gentleman'.
Plutarch compares Spartan life to that of a bee hive.
Spartans were forbidden to travel and foreigners were only permitted in for business. Anymore was feared to corrupt Spartan virtue.
Spartan law permitted any Spartan to kill a Helot when he deemed necessary. Unlike the last few laws mentioned, Plutarch denies this abominable practice was from Lycurgus.
Spartan society deeply impacted Plato's view of Utopia.
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