This volume provides a detailed analysis of Book XIV of Homer's Iliad, known for the 'Dios apate' scene. It includes linguistic, philological, and narratological insights, building on extensive Homeric scholarship. The commentary is part of the Basel Commentary series, which updates and expands earlier works in the field.
In this book, Dr. Jonathan Shay examines the psychological devastation of war by drawing parallels between the experiences of Achilles in Homer's Iliad and those of Vietnam veterans. Shay, a psychiatrist who has worked extensively with Vietnam War veterans, argues that the psychological wounds of warriors transcend time and culture. He explores themes such as the betrayal of moral values during warfare, the intense grief and anger resulting from the loss of comrades, the descent into a 'berserk' state, and the challenges of homecoming. The book highlights the importance of understanding and healing the psychological trauma incurred by soldiers and emphasizes the need for communal support in their recovery[2][4][5].
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
This book is a compilation of James B. Stockdale's essays and speeches from the 1980s and 1990s, focusing on his experiences as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and how Stoic philosophy, particularly the teachings of Epictetus, helped him endure and thrive under extreme conditions. It explores themes of character, leadership, integrity, and ethics.
Le Morte d'Arthur is a collection of Arthurian legends compiled by Sir Thomas Malory, offering a comprehensive account of King Arthur's life and the Knights of the Round Table.
This book provides a detailed examination of warrior cultures from ancient times to the present, including discussions on the ethical dimensions of modern warfare technologies like drones and cyber warfare. It aims to establish a code for contemporary warriors facing asymmetric conflicts and global terrorism. The second edition includes analyses of modern-day warriors and emerging technologies.
Mark J. Osiel's book delves into the legal and ethical challenges surrounding military obedience, particularly in the context of atrocities. It critiques current legal standards for obedience and suggests reforms to enhance moral responsibility among soldiers. The work combines legal analysis with insights into military psychology and ethics, aiming to align military discipline with contemporary warfare realities.
Editor's Note: This is a rebroadcast. It originally aired July 2020.
War is a violent and bloody business, but it's rarely a no-holds barred free-for-all. Instead, codes of conduct that determine what is and isn't honorable behavior on the battlefield have existed since ancient times.
My guest today explored these various codes in a book she wrote during the decade she spent teaching at the United States Naval Academy. Her name is Shannon French, she's a professor of ethics and philosophy, and her book is The Code of the Warrior: Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present. Shannon and I begin our conversation with the pointed questions she used to pose to the cadets she taught as to how being a warrior was different than being a killer or murderer, and when killing is and isn't ethical. She then explains how the warrior codes which developed all around the world arose organically from warriors themselves for their own protection, and how these codes are more about identity than rules. Shannon and I then take a tour of warrior codes across time and culture, starting with the code in Homer's Iliad, and then moving into the strengths and weaknesses of the Stoic philosophy which undergirded the code of the Romans. From there we unpack the code of the medieval knights of Arthurian legend, what American Indians can teach soldiers about the need to make clear transitions between the homefront and the warfront, and how the Bushido code of the samurais sought to balance the influence of four different religions. We end our conversation with the role warrior codes play today in an age of increasingly technologized combat.
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Resources Related to the Podcast
Connect With Shannon
Shannon on Twitter
The Art of Manliness 
