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OP Does anyone have an entry for this word?
Richard Stengel discusses it in his book "You're Too Kind: A Brief History of Flattery" in the context of Hellenic ideas about democracy and freedom of speech.
He explains that it means "frankness of speech", in opposition to demagoguery.Quote:In the fifth century B.C., "parhesia" was the term the Greeks used for free speech. The idea was that a free man speaking before his fellow citizens was to speak freely, truthfully, sincerely. Frank speech was transparent speech. Parhesia was regarded as a foundation of democracy. It was both a right and a necessity. Parhesia was the unpleasant truth, not the pleasing fiction. The Greeks believed a democracy could survive only if men were truthful and frank.
Edit: Never mind. Stengel spells it with one r. But here it is with two:
Parrhesia
Last edited by Hydra; 03/10/07 04:08 AM.
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