Learning from the Ancient - and Modern - Greeks

At Defining Ideas, Emily Esfahani Smith outlines the world view of Victor Davis Hanson, professor, farmer, and agrarian conservative. An excerpt:

“The Greeks of the ancient world understood human nature,” Hanson says. “They knew that people want freedom and affluence, but that when you combine the two, you can have decadence.” The ancient Greeks knew that virtue required a strong moral order that protected people from themselves—from their own follies and vices. Hanson specifically cites the importance of a “shame culture” in checking human behavior.