Sophocles’ Antigone and Its Argumentative Value: A Legal-Philosophical Reading

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to propose an analysis of one of the fundamental texts of legal and philosophical thought, namely Sophocles’ Antigone. In particular, I will examine the dilemmatic structure of the tragedy and who, between Antigone and Creon, is wrong and who is right, trying to overcome the interpretation that still reads the classical tragedy in terms of a certain kind of legal hierarchical order of laws – something that did not exist at that time. To understand this point is to understand their reasons for acting and the role of hybris in relation to phronesis. In this way, it will be possible to understand Sophocles’ intentions and why he did not offer a positive solution to the dilemma.