Isonomia and the Origins of Philosophy

In Isonomia and the Origins of Philosophy-published originally in Japanese and now available in four languages-Kōjin Karatani questions the idealization of ancient Athens as the source of philosophy and democracy by placing the origins instead in Ionia, a set of Greek colonies located in present-day Turkey. Contrasting Athenian democracy with Ionian isonomia-a system based on non-rule and a lack of social divisions whereby equality is realized through the freedom to immigrate-Karatani shows...