The Marketplace of Ideas and the Agora: Herodotus on the Power of Isegoria

Popular discourse about freedom of speech tends to default the metaphor marketplace ideas, notwithstanding empirical evidence undermining this concept. Its persistence illustrates profound attachment inspires, despite difficulty justifying it in epistemic terms. I suggest that ancient Greek historian Herodotus offers a compelling alternative with his account isegoria at Athens. In Herodotus’s telling, Athenian equal right is worthwhile not because its effects on but effect political culture; energizes Athenians and He thus nonepistemic defense speak, defending instead terms power belonging. Yet also highlights how unleashes harms therefore way defend free without minimizing dangers. helps us productively reframe contemporary debates.