From Homer to Max Weber : the sociology of the Odyssey

Wiśniewska, Maria (author)

The paper presents the protagonist of Homer’s Odyssey from a socio­logical perspective, specifically within the framework of the so­called “third sociology,” which views society as a realm of constant inter­action among individuals. Its dynamic network of relationships places every acting individual in its nodes – social positions or roles. This process generates both group and individual social capital, which shapes each individual’s life course. In this perspective, Odysseus is an acting individual occupying a political position in ancient society. The interpretation of his behaviors, as described in various episodes of the Odyssey, reveals his personal attributes, modes, and methods of action; and their combination produces an archetypal image of the role of a politician, later echoed by Max Weber.

• Language: English
• Keywords: sociology, Odyssey, ancient Greek literature, social position, social role, social capital, political position
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 29.12.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 165-182
• Numbering: Letn. 7, št. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-180600
• UDC: 821.14
• ISSN on article: 2670-6210
• DOI: 10.4312/clotho.7.2.165-182
• COBISS.SI-ID: 271263491
• Publication date in RUL: 12.03.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Clotho
• Publisher: Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani, University of Ljubljana Press
• ISSN: 2670-6210
• COBISS.SI-ID: 300877824

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Od Homerja do Maxa Webra : sociologija Odiseje

Abstract

Članek analizira protagonista Homerjeve Odiseje s sociološkega vidika, natančneje z vidika tako imenovane »tretje sociologije«, ki družbo obravnava kot področje nenehnega medsebojnega delovanja posameznikov. Njena dinamična mreža odnosov postavlja vsakega posameznika v ustrezna vozlišča – družbene položaje ali vloge. Tak proces ustvarja tako skupinski kot individualni socialni kapital, ki oblikuje življenjsko pot vsakega posameznika. V tej perspektivi je Odisej dejavni posameznik, ki zaseda politični položaj v antični družbi. Sociološka interpretacija njegovih ravnanj, kot so opisana v različnih epizodah Odiseje, razkriva njegove osebne lastnosti ter načine in metode delovanja; njihova kombinacija ustvarja arhetipsko podobo politikove vloge, kot jo je kasneje obravnaval Max Weber.

• Keywords: sociologija, Odiseja, starogrška književnost, družbeni položaj, družbena vloga, družbeni kapital, politični položaj