Agamemnon at Aulis: On the Right and Wrong Sorts of Imaginative Identification

Abstract Williams’ discussion of dilemmas in his classic paper “Ethical consistency” famously focuses on an example that has not bothered commentators and respondents to Williams as much it should have them: the Agamemnon Aeschylus’ play. In this I try pick apart what wants say from is really going text he unfortunately chooses for example. compare with four other crucial passage play: Plato, Socrates, Aristotle—and Bernard Greats tutor Eduard Fraenkel, whose epochal Corpus Christi seminars play attended (along Iris Murdoch, Hugh Lloyd Jones, rising stars time). shall argue these led astray. They are surprisingly prone same flaws rationalism, impersonality, moralism making sense extraordinarily subtle brilliant depiction Agamemnon; inherits flaws. This obviously ironic fact, especially given a very fruitful reading passage—one think makes better Aeschylus actually says—points deeply Williamsian moral. It takes at Aulis study key step corruption character, gets its power horror ability show us how process looks Agamemnon’s own viewpoint.