B. Freydberg, Philosophy and Comedy: Aristophanes, Logos, and Eros - Theatre and Performance

French Literature Reviews - 2026

B. Freydberg, Philosophy and Comedy: Aristophanes, Logos, and Eros
Theatre and Performance

Bernard Freydberg, Philosophy and Comedy: Aristophanes, Logos, and Eros. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2008, 235p.

ISBN Paperback: 9780253219701

ISBN Hardback: 9780253351067

Reviewed by James Brusuelas (California State University at Los Angeles) in Bryn Mawr Classical Review: 2008.12.04

Publisher's overview:

Aristophanes' comedies have stood the test of time as some of the greatest comic literature ever produced. While there have been numerous commentaries on Aristophanes and his world, until now there has been no systematic philosophical treatment of his comedies. In Philosophy and Comedy, Bernard Freydberg illuminates the philosophical insights in Aristophanes' texts by presenting close readings of Clouds, Wasps, Assemblywomen, and Lysistrata, addressing their comic genius at the same time. Freydberg challenges notions that philosophy is best served by a tragic disposition and arrives at a new assessment of the philosophical importance of comedy.

Bernard Freydberg examines the works of Aristophanes through close readings of selected comedies, including Clouds, Wasps, Assemblywomen, and Lysistrata. By addressing the comic genius present in these texts alongside their philosophical insights, the study challenges traditional notions that philosophy is best served by a tragic disposition. Readers interested in classical Greek literature and the intersection of ancient philosophy and dramatic comedy may find it relevant to their studies.

The relationship between ancient Greek drama and philosophical thought has long invited scholarly inquiry, particularly regarding how theatrical forms engage with foundational concepts. Ancient comedy often interrogated contemporary intellectual life, offering a distinct perspective on civic and ethical questions. Within this broader tradition, systematic philosophical treatments of dramatic texts seek to uncover the conceptual dimensions embedded within theatrical performance and poetic form.