Mortal and Practical: Four Images of the Human Condition in the Nature-Human Relationship in Ancient Greece

Abstract

The article examines the complex relationship between human beings and nature as understood by the ancient Greeks, focusing on four “images” or “linguistic figurations” (among many others) that became iconic representations of “human nature” itself. Through the lens of philosophical anthropology, this study explores these figurations as cultural processes intricately linked to individual and societal meditations, offering insights into how the ancient Greeks sought to explain both the individual and the universe. Ultimately, the analysis reveals that the relationship between nature and the human beings played a central role in shaping the very definition of the humanity in ancient Greek thought.