On Shame and Spirit

Abstract

Bernard Williams’ discussion on Homer and tragedy in his book Shame and Necessity is often seen as an aberration from his other work. Williams’ oeuvre is devoted to the development of criticisms on moral and ethical theory. In Shame and Necessity these criticisms are repeated but the book also seems to involve an attempt to develop an ethical framework which is inspired by classical literature. According to Williams, the main basis for this framework is the ethical emotion of shame, which is central in many of the plays of Homer and the tragedians. The question is whether Williams has been successful in developing a different ethical framework than the ones he has already criticised and rejected. Contrary to the commentators of Shame and Necessity I argue that this is the case. We can clarify the obscurities of Williams’ book by giving a holistic interpretation of his work. This interpretation makes use of Williams' insights on another ancient Greek style of thinking: the philosophy of Plato.