Excellence, Justice, Temperance, Hubris, Reverence and Xenia. The pillars of ancient Greek moral philosophy. The combination of which is often referred to as Kalos kagathos or Kalokagathos (Ancient Greek: καλὸς κἀγαθός). Kalokagathia is the derived noun often used by ancient Greek philosophers to describe an ideal of gentlemanly personal conduct; consisting of the harmonious combination of bodily, moral, and spiritual virtues.
Kalokagathia was not simply an aesthetic preference, but a holistic ideal seeking to shape individuals of integrity, physical prowess, and intellectual virtue. The ideal citizen in theory. One that would be the foundation of a noble society, but is it still relevant today?
The Ancient Greek Ideal
In ancient Greece, physical fitness and athleticism weren’t mere hobbies. They were cornerstones of society, woven into the fabric of their culture, military power, and even their understanding of citizenship. The local gymnasium would have been a vibrant social hub where young men gathered under the watchful eyes of the paedotribes (athletic trainers) as they engaged in physical exercise; running, wrestling, weightlifting and javelin throwing. The gymnasiums also served as a school of character. Where philosophical discussions and moral teachings took place, and competitions in poetry and music were held.
Arete (Excellence) was the overarching concept of striving for excellence in all aspects of life, physical, intellectual and ethically. Athletics, warfare, and intellectual pursuits were all seen as avenues for achieving ‘arete’, not just for individual glory, but also for the benefit of the polis (city-state or Constitutional Microstate). For ancient Greece was not a homogeneous society, but a collection of individual city-states not only in competition with each other, but also with those outside of Greece.
Outside of the local gymnasium, athletic competitions, most notably the Panhellenic Games like the Olympics, were the ultimate test of physical and mental fortitude. Victor’s weren’t simply celebrated for their athletic prowess, these were the arena filling spectacles of the times. They were showered with honor and riches, statues were built of them, and their legacy immortalised in poetry and song. They were the rock stars of ancient Greece.
This Is Kalokagathia
Kalokagathia deeply influenced Greek society, including their approach to warfare. If you’ve ever watched Zack Snyder’s 300, or Troy, or perhaps even Disney’s Hercules, you will have seen ancient Greeks at war in one form or another. Perhaps you’ve gone deep enough to read Herodotus’ Histories, or Pindar’s Victory Odes and read about the various victories in battle. The various Greek city states interpretation of Kalokagathia was not unified, each sought to interpret the concept of excellence in different ways. We can compare Sparta and Athens in this.
The Spartan warrior embodied kalokagathia like no other. From rigorous childhood training in the agoge to unwavering discipline in the phalanx, their lives were sculpted for war. Their reputation as fierce and unstoppable stemmed not just from physical prowess but also from their unwavering courage, instilled by a rigorous code of honor and obedience. Spartan victories, like at Thermopylae, where their sacrifice held back the Persian tide, cemented their image as paragons of martial virtue.
Athenians, though less focused on pure martial training, still valued physical fitness and military preparedness. Their hoplites, while perhaps not as individually formidable as Spartans, excelled in coordinated maneuvers and tactical flexibility. Athenians also embraced the intellectual side of kalokagathia, employing brilliant strategists like Miltiades and Themistocles to devise cunning tactics, like using their superior navy at Salamis, to outmaneuver their opponents.
This clash of ideals played out in epic battles like Marathon, where Athenian agility ultimately triumphed over Spartan rigidity
The Cynics at the Pass
Ironically, it was also the Greek philosophical school of the Cynics who rejected Kalokagathia. There’s was a position of anti-conventionalism. They rejected the social norms, values and material pursuits of their time. Criticising wealth, fame, power and even basic comforts. Advocating primarily for a simple, self sufficient lifestyle. In rejecting tradition they rejected the traditional forms of authority, including government, religion and the social hierarchies of the time.
These cynics viewed themselves as citizens of the world. Rejecting the narrow loyalties of specific Greek city states. But still, they emphasized universal human values like honesty, courage and self reliance to transcend national and cultural boundaries. Cynicism, whilst not a monolithic school of thought, also influenced later philosophical movements. Stoicism (Chpt 6: What Are The Civilian Applications) was a philosophy that took onboard the messages of simplicity, reason and individual virtue. The Roman emperor Julian the Apostate was also influenced by Cynical teachings.
We could argue that modern cynicism exists today, albeit in an altered form and in a graded spectrum. Modern cynicism often manifests as a deep distrust of authority figures, institutions and even other individuals. It can extend to ideals like love, altruism and society. Far better described as skepticism or pessimism perhaps.
Modern cynics frequently question the sincerity and motivations behind grand pronouncements of ideals and values. Dismissing efforts towards social change or political solutions as mere self-serving gestures, which furthers distrust and disillusionment. Indeed we discussed moral hypocrisy in Chpt 25: Very Little Gravitas Indeed. Perhaps I myself am prone to cynicism at times. Aren’t we all?
Conclusion
I started this article to try to understand the physical, mental and philosophical ideals of the Ancient Greeks. Perhaps as a way to find something that we’ve lost along the way. Instead I found that rather than rejection of traditions being a modern phenomenon, it existed concurrently with Kalokagathia.
Whether we start with Cynicism in Ancient Greece, onwards to the Christian ascetic movement in Medieval Europe. Onwards again to 18th and 19th century Romanticism, 19th and 20th century Bodily Reform movements, 1960’s counterculture, the Fat Acceptance movements and Body Positivity movements in the late 20th century. All of these rejecting tradition, beauty standards, supposed physical ideals and embracing individuality and self expression over conformity.
Indeed, the Kalokagathia philosophy is a form of collectivism. Something that I myself rail against frequently. It emphasises the primacy of the group over the individual. Individual needs and desires being subordinate to the collective good. It did this under the guise of civic duty, but did value individual development and personal responsibility under an ethical and moral framework.
When Plato discussed the perfect society in his book Republic, he takes Kalokagathia as the moral foundation for the citizens. Plato doesn’t advocate for purely individualistic excellence. Citizens who embody kalokagathia are not only expected to strive for personal perfection but also to fulfill their roles within the city-state with dedication and responsibility. Their individual virtues contribute to the collective good, strengthening the fabric of society.
Plato’s ideal citizens take pride in their city-state and their own contributions to its flourishing. This pride stems from understanding their role within the larger system and recognizing that their individual excellence serves a greater purpose.
This perfect citizen must, however, be allowed a state to be proud of. Something I feel we are missing today.
Anyway, go to the gym, read a book. It’s character forming.
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