New Books in Intellectual History Oswyn Murray, "The Muse of History: The Ancient Greeks from the Enlightenment to the Present" (Harvard UP, 2024)
Sep 3, 2025
Oswyn Murray, an Emeritus fellow of Balliol College, University of Oxford, brings his expertise in ancient history to the table. He discusses how perceptions of ancient Greece have transformed over three centuries, influenced by contemporary ideologies. Murray shares captivating stories about historical figures like Hegel and Nietzsche, revealing how their thoughts shaped modern understandings of liberty and culture. He also highlights how the study of Greek history reflects broader societal concerns, connecting past legacies to today's philosophical debates.
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History Reflects The Present
- Oswyn Murray argues history is always contemporary and reflects present concerns rather than past realities.
- He uses Vermeer's Muse of History as a metaphor for the historian's mirrored, multi-perspective view of the past.
Why Greeks Became Central
- Murray locates Western obsession with the Greeks in the Enlightenment when Greeks became templates for modern questions.
- He notes Greek literature and thought began to outshine Roman models for understanding politics and culture.
Sparta As Enlightenment Ideal
- Murray explains Enlightenment thinkers admired Spartan discipline as a model against perceived democratic chaos.
- He adds ancient sources' own admiration for Sparta reinforced this early preference.
