Abstract

This dissertation seeks a better understanding of the word skopos, "target/purpose," as found in the ethical works of Plato and Aristotle through a study of archery imagery in the ancient Greek literary tradition. ;Homer uses this archery imagery in the notion of "winged" as in "winged arrows" and transfers the idea to "winged words", thus showing the carryover of the efficacy of these deadly arrows to the effective use of speeches for dramatic purpose. Also, in the Odyssey, the use of skopos meaning "a standard" is applied to a plan in the litotes, ouk apo skopou, "not far from the mark", thus, setting up this understatement as the standard, polite expression for recommending a proposed plan. ;In the poetry of Pindar there is suggested the need for the finest words of praise to match the excellence of the Olympic feats. Through his use of archery imagery Pindar suggests the need for moderation in the praise of these victors. ;In the cult worship of Heracles archery imagery is evident as Heracles is invoked as the patron of youth and giver of virtue because of his arrows to ward off evils and bring prosperity. ;As notions regarding the culpability and punishment of wrongdoing are developed in the areas of oratory and the theater the description of a basic, unwritten standard of conduct from the heroic age is often made reference to in an antiquated image of a standard or mark, the skopos, such as that which the archers hit in the Homeric epics. ;The philosophers Plato and Aristotle show in their writings an awareness of this need for such a skopos, or unchanging standard, to guide right conduct. Plato looks to this imagery from archery to generate enthusiasm in his audience for educational reform and finds in the word skopos an emotionally charged metaphor endowed with almost "iconic" content. Furthermore, Aristotle indicates that there is a need for a skopos, or objective standard of the Good, in order that one might make adjustments in the decision-making regarding one's everyday activities so that through right conduct one might prosper