Oedipus Philosophus: A Thought Experiment

Abstract

This article has a four-fold purpose: (I) to point out the interface and overlap of Classics and Philosophy; (ii) to encourage the take-up of A level Philosophy as a fitting companion for Classics courses, linguistic and non-linguistic; (iii) to reinforce the correction of certain crucial misunderstandings about Sophocles’ play, Oedipus Rex, especially concerning the agency of Oedipus both in the play and the back story of the play; (iv) to present a ‘thought experiment’ in order to show how modern philosophy might be applied to an ancient Greek play in order to resolve issues of truth and necessity.

Keywords

• Oedipus Rex
• Thought Experiment
• Oracles
• Modern Philosophy
• Truth