Analysis and​ P​olitical ​T​heory in the ​S​ocial ​R​eforms of Solon of Athens

Abstract

The figure of Solon is crucial in the development of Greek political theory. His theoretical contribution arises from his own experience in government, his deep knowledge of the Athenian social milieu and his role as ruler at a critical stage in the early sixth century B.C.E. The purpose of this article is to present some conclusions regarding Solon’s analysis of his historical and social reality, which led him to develop several key ideas that shaped one of the earliest political theories of Western thought. Solon’s theory served to validate his activity and justify his decisions as both a government leader and a public figure. All this is reflected in his poems and in certain works of later authors.