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Call for Papers
October, 26th 2019.
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Third University of Florida Classics Graduate Student Symposium
Justice turns the balance scales
Δίκα δὲ τοῖς μὲν παθοῦσιν μαθεῖν ἐπιρρέπει (Aeschylus, Agamemnon, 250-1)
“But Justice turns the balance scales,
sees that we suffer and we suffer and we learn.” (trans. Robert Fagles)

The importance of the concept of justice in ancient literature and culture set the foundation for the philosophical, social, and political reflections on the subject in the centuries that followed. From archaic theodicy, to the great plays of the Tragedians, from Caesar’s debate with Cato, to life under tyrannical emperors, δίκη [dīke] and iustitia (νόμος [nomos] and ius…) come to the fore as key ideas to interpret the world and man’s role/duty in it. Many human experiences that ancient literature describes broached the issue of justice, be it at a personal level (the problem of suffering, retribution, progress, etc.) or at a societal and historical level (administration of justice, redistribution of land, great legal cases of ancient history, etc.). These ideas have been the point of reference for many literary works and philosophical/political reflections in the cultural tradition that reaches us today.

We invite papers that explore the issue of justice and reflect on its role in the life of the individual and of society in the ancient world. We also welcome papers that inquire into the legacy of ancient reflections on justice in the literary, philosophical, and historical traditions of modern cultures.

Topics may include but are not limited to:

  • Interpretations of literary texts dealing with the issue of justice at any level
  • Philosophical studies on the issue of justice
  • Historical issues related to problems of justice in the courts of law and in the policy making process, and to social instances of justice and injustice.
  • Artistic representation of justice
  • The role of the concept of justice in religious belief and ritual

Please submit abstracts of no more than 250 words by July 1st 2019 by emailing a pdf attachment to gradsymposium@classics.ufl.edu. Please include your name, affiliation, and the title of your abstract in the body of your email. Papers should be no longer than 20 minutes. Any questions should be addressed to the same email address.

Selected proceedings will be published by the UF Smathers Libraries Press.

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(Photo: "Handwritten" by A. Birkan, licensed under CC BY 2.0)